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Ensure every child is equipped with ICT skills for future development- Antony Okleh
The Municipal ICT Coordinator for New Juaben South, Antony Okleh has called on stakeholders in the education sector to ensure that every child in the country, regardless of their background were equipped with digital skill that were essential for the future development of the country.
He said equipping and utilizing information technology to uplift the lives of the children would not only transform their lives but they would also use it to transform their communities and societies they find themselves in the country.
“We have children in the country who lack the basic numeracy and reading skills required for a productive future.
However, through the learning of IT, we can find a transformative solution that has the potential to bridge this gap,” he said.
Mr.Okleh also added that it would help reduce learning poverty among children who were the future leaders of the country.
The Municipal ICT Coordinator made these statements during the graduation of 22 pupils who took part in the Illumine IT training programme organised by the Ghana Library Authority (GLA) in collaboration with the Eastern Entertainment Group and UNICEF in Koforidua on Thursday.
The programme sought to equip the pupils with digital skills to improve their access to quality learning, employability and empower them for opportunities online and offline through youth engagement centres established by the GLA in partnership with UNICEF.
The pupils were trained in internet research, graphic design, introduction to computer and spreadsheets among others.
Mr Okleh indicated that today’s world was constantly evolving and information technology has transcended its role as a mere tool and has emerged as a beacon of hope illuminating the path towards a more equitable landscape.
He said equipping the pupils with the skills would empower them to contribute meaningfully to the future workforce and society and make them architects of change.
“With the advent of the digital age learning is no longer confined to the four walls of the classrooms. We have online resources, interactive platforms and educational applications that has the power to deliver quality learning experiences to the most remote corners of the world,” he said.
He said coupled with teamwork, critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration, the pupil can transform the country.
He congratulated the graduands and urged them to continue to advance in digital knowledge and skills and take advantage of any opportunity that comes their way and urged parents to continue to make the necessary investment in their children while they motivate them to do more.
For her part, Madam Bridget Adjei Mensah, Head of IT at the GLA in the Eastern region who spoke on behalf of the Regional Director, Mr Evans Korletey-Tene said GLA and UNICEF shared similar views and values in fostering literary and providing skill development opportunities for young people, adding that it has encouraged them to collaborate to drive the engagement centre in Ghana through the establishment of ten youth engagement centers in Ghana Libraries.
She said Koforidua in the Eastern region was part of the places where the ten centres havebeen established to strengthen institutional capacity and leverage on technological tools to achieve desirable outcome for young people and bring its services closed to them.
She said the partnership with stakeholders to roll out the Illumin IT project was one of the programmes create community spaces for peer to peer learning and youth engagement which also enables stronger cooperation with young people.
One of the beneficiaries, a pupil of the Koforidua Presbyterian School, Delight Kekeli Ahor thanked the organisers for the programme and stated that they have they would improve themselves while they use skills to help others.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
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Communication Ministry To Train 3000 Girls This Year Under The Girls-In-ICT Initiative
The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations is set to train 3,000 girls under this year’s Girls-In-ICT Initiative.
The 2025 edition of the programme will expand its footprint to three key regions: Volta, Upper East and Upper West, with each region hosting 1,000 girls for in-person training sessions.
This marks a significant increase in reach and impact compared to previous years, where only 500 girls received face-to-face training while an additional 500 participated online.
By offering full in-person training to all participants this year, the Ministry aims to provide a more immersive and hands-on experience in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) education.
The Minister, Samuel Nartey George (MP) revealed this when a team from TATA Consultancy Services (TCS) paid a courtesy call on him today in his office and expressed interest in supporting the Girls-In-ICT Initiative.
During the meeting, the TCS team led by the President-MEA, Sumanta Roy commended the Ministry for its efforts in promoting digital inclusion and bridging the gender gap in technology through the Girls-In-ICT programme.
They emphasized the alignment of the initiative with TCS’s global corporate social responsibility agenda, which includes advancing education, promoting digital skills, and empowering underrepresented groups, especially young women in the tech industry.
The Honourable Minister welcomed the interest shown by TCS and noted that strategic partnerships like this are essential to the sustainability and expansion of the initiative.
The Girls-In-ICT Initiative, one of the Ministry’s flagship programs, seeks to equip young girls with practical digital skills and introduce them to the vast opportunities within the ICT sector.
The initiative also aims to address gender disparity in STEM fields and encourage greater female participation in Ghana’s digital economy.
Hon. Samuel Nartey George (MP) speaking about the 2025 rollout, stated: “This year’s program represents our commitment to building inclusive digital skills and creating future leaders in tech.
By expanding in-person sessions to all participants, we’re ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to learn, engage, and grow with hands-on support from professionals and mentors”.
Participants in this year’s training will receive instruction in coding, basic computer operations, cybersecurity and creative digital tools.
The programme also features mentorship sessions with women in tech, ICT competitions and career development workshops designed to build confidence and spark innovation among the girls.
According to the Minister, empowering girls today with ICT skills will transform communities and drive national development. The initiative is a key part of Ghana’s broader digital transformation agenda, which emphasizes equitable access to digital tools and education for all citizens.
About the Girls In ICT Initiative:
The Girls-in-ICT (GIICT) Initiative was introduced in Ghana in 2012. It is an initiative by the International Telecommunications Union to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider studies and careers in the growing field of ICT.
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GEXIM deepens relations with US EXIM Bank
A management team of the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) led by the Acting Chief Executive, Sylvester Mensah met with the leadership of the Export–Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM) on Wednesday April 23, 2025 in Washington DC, United States of America.
The Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM, Mr. James C. Cruse and Vice President, International Relations, Ms. Isabel Galdiz received the GEXIM delegation, which included Deputy CEO for Banking, Mr. Moses Klu Mensah and Head of International Cooperation, Mr. Jonathan Christopher Koney at the headquarters of US EXIM.
The meeting offered the GEXIM team the opportunity to share the strategic direction of the Bank in line with the resetting agenda of the President of the Republic, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for the repositioning of the Ghanaian economy into an export-led one by providing the requisite investment to Ghanaian businesses.
Mr. James C. Cruse expressed US EXIM’s eagerness to deepen its existing relations with GEXIM and proposed the signing of a new Cooperative Framework Agreement following the expiration of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019 to utilize US EXIM’s medium term loan guarantees to procure machinery by GEXIM for qualified Ghanaian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Mr.Sylvester Mensah thanked the Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM for hosting the GEXIM delegation and reaffirmed the Ghanaian government’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment between Ghana and its global partners for economic transformation of Ghana with GEXIM playing a pivotal role.
The two teams will be meeting on the sidelines of the 2025 US EXIM Annual Conference on 29th and April 30, 2025 to explore possible areas of collaboration and matching Ghanaian businesses to American companies. The meeting ended with an exchange of gifts.
