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The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George (MP), paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa and project partners ahead of the launch of the RoboTechLabs Project on opportunities for digital skills development and innovation.
The meeting brought together officials of the University and representatives from project partners including GIZ and IBES, where discussions focused on strengthening collaboration to equip students with practical digital and technological skills.
The Minister expressed appreciation to the University and its partners for their commitment to advancing robotics, engineering and emerging technologies, noting that such initiatives align strongly with government’s vision to build a highly skilled digital workforce.
Central to the discussions was the Government’s One Million Coders Programme which seeks to equip young people with market-relevant digital skills. Hon. Samuel Nartey George underscored the programme’s focus on job creation, skills upgrading and positioning Ghana as a competitive hub for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) globally. According to him, the country possesses the talent and potential to become a major destination for digital services, provided young people are equipped with the right technical competencies.
The Minister revealed that the Ministry is preparing to roll out about 100 digital training centres across the country to expand access to technology training under the OMC initiative.
He indicated that institutions such as UMaT could play a strategic role in scaling the programme, noting that it is feasible for the University to support training for up to 5,000 participants at the initial stage.
Beyond coding, the discussions explored specialised training areas including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), engineering and emerging digital technologies. The Minister stressed that AI will form a critical component of the One Million Coders Programme, noting that global evidence shows a net positive impact on employment for individuals equipped with AI-related skills.
He further highlighted the importance of developing local AI datasets that reflect African realities, stressing the need to retain Ghanaian talent in building and managing such datasets. According to him, strengthening data harmonisation across government agencies will also be essential in supporting innovation and enabling effective use of data for national development.
The engagement also touched on the role of digital innovation in supporting Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy agenda, as well as the need to strengthen the country’s startup ecosystem through initiatives such as the Innovation and Startup Bill. The Minister emphasised that a thriving startup environment, supported by strong incentives and policy frameworks, will be critical in translating digital skills into sustainable employment opportunities.
