University of Cape Coast Lecturer praises government's ‘One Million Coders’ Initiative

Dr. Patrick Essien is a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (UCC). He is also the founder of Molex Foundation. He praised the government's One Million Coders policy.

As an expert in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Dr. Essien sees this initiative as groundbreaking. He believes it will help reduce youth unemployment in Ghana.

The One Million Coders Programme aims to teach young Ghanaians coding, artificial intelligence, and digital technology skills. This will prepare them for the global digital economy.

The government has partnered with key stakeholders, including telecommunication providers, for success.

In an interview with JoyNews on Sunday, Dr. Essien discussed Ghana's unemployment situation. The rate stands at 13.4% for those aged 15-24 and 6.7% for the general population, according to the Ghana Statistical Service.

Dr. Essien noted that youth unemployment contributes significantly to cybercrime and other crimes in Ghana. He emphasized the need for initiatives like One Million Coders to create job opportunities and reduce cybercrime.

He encouraged young people to take advantage of this policy to improve their digital skills. This can help them start their own IT centers and businesses.

Dr. Essien believes this empowerment can lead to a brighter future for youth in Ghana. He urged the government to ensure the policy meets its goals without losing relevance.

He is confident that successful implementation can reduce criminal activities and enhance national security in Ghana.