The Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation has received a GHC 10 million support from telecommunications company, MTN Ghana.
This support, according to the Chief Corporate Services Officer, Mr. Samuel Koranteng, is to help grow female participation in the ICT industry as part of the company’s 25th Anniversary.
Receiving the support, the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs. Ursula Owusu Ekuful noted how men have dominated the technology industry hence the need to bridge the gap.
According to her, there are untapped opportunities in the ICT industry and Ghana needs to prepare its human resources to embrace such.
“Ghana has what it takes to compete globally hence my conviction to grow girls in ICT to take advantage of the openings in the world.
“I have received several requests from boys who feel left behind in this initiative and want to be considered. But the priority now is to bridge the male-female gap and once we are even on the playing field, we may consider; children in ICT,” she said.
Mrs. Ekuful recounted her conviction to scale up the Girls in ICT initiative but for financing barriers, such remains a dream.
She, therefore, thanked MTN GHANA for favorably considering the ministry’s request and pledged to utilise the support for which it was given.
Deputy Minister for the ministry, Ama Pomaa Boateng, requested more job openings in the company for the Ghanaian Youth.
Present at the presentation was the acting CEO of MTN Ghana, Mr. William Tetteh, Directors, and staff of MOCD and MTN Ghana.
The 2021 Girls in ICT initiative will be held in the Western North Region under the global theme “Connected Girls, Creating Brighter Futures”.
The initiative is celebrated annually to encourage young girls and demystify the myth that girls and young women cannot pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and ICT related subjects.
A total number of one thousand (1000) girls are currently being trained with basic ICT skills from all the nine (9) districts in the Western North Region plus one (1) district from the Western Region (i.e., Prestea Huni Valley Municipal) making a total of ten (10) districts.
