90,000 apply for national coders programme in Just 48 hours - Mahama announces

President John Dramani Mahama announced the One Million Coders Programme. Within 48 hours of opening applications, 90,000 people applied. This shows a strong demand for digital skills among Ghanaian youth.

At the launch in Accra, President Mahama explained the programme's decentralized approach. Training will be available nationwide, from cities to remote villages.

The first cohort includes 560 trainees in Accra, Kumasi, Sunyani, and Bolgatanga. This reflects a commitment to gender balance and regional inclusivity. Vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities, will also be included.

President Mahama noted that the response indicates a need for opportunities for young people. He said this overwhelming interest highlights the importance of the initiative. Plans are underway to expand the programme with community training centres in all districts.

He discussed necessary digital infrastructure improvements. This includes expanding broadband and providing learning platforms and devices. "Every layer of this initiative has been designed for skill and sustainability," he stated.

Communications Minister Sam George emphasized digital training's role in addressing skills gaps in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nearly 60% of young people lack basic digital skills. "This gap is a barrier to progress," he said.

The One Million Coders Programme aims to provide comprehensive coding training initially at four locations. The Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT leads content creation and training for the programme.

Courses will cover beginner to advanced levels with certifications in various fields like cybersecurity and data analysis. Initially planned for 260 students, over 4,000 applied within four hours of announcement; thus it expanded to 520 students.

As of now, over 91,000 applications have been received. This initiative is an investment in Ghana’s youth by equipping them with essential digital skills.

Despite a youth unemployment rate of 12%, millions of new jobs are expected by 2030 in Africa's digital economy. This presents significant opportunities for Ghana's youth.