What Ghana can learn from Global Initiatives as it trains One Million Coders

Ghana Launches One Million Coders Programme

On April 16, 2025, Ghana launched the One Million Coders Programme. This initiative aims to equip one million young Ghanaians with digital skills. The goal is to enhance their employability in the global digital economy. President John Dramani Mahama and Minister Hon. Sam Nartey George launched the event in Accra.

Initially, the plan was to enroll 260 students for a pilot program. However, within four hours of launching, 4,000 applications were received. This led to an increase in enrollment to 520 trainees. By launch time, total applications reached 91,847.

President Mahama highlighted successful digital education programs from other countries. He mentioned Estonia, the UK, Finland, Japan, and the US as examples. These initiatives provide valuable lessons for Ghana’s programme.

Estonia: The ProgeTiger Program

Estonia's ProgeTiger Program improves technological literacy among students and teachers. It targets learners from preschool to high school. The program integrates programming and robotics into the curriculum while training teachers.

Students develop critical thinking through coding workshops and competitions. Ninety-nine percent of Estonian schools participate actively in this program.

In September 2025, Estonia will launch AI Leap 2025. This new initiative will provide access to AI-powered educational tools for students and teachers.

United Kingdom: Year of Code

In 2014, the UK launched "Year of Code." This campaign aimed to embed coding into all state-run schools' curricula. It included a £500,000 teacher training fund for vital digital skills development.

The initiative emphasized hands-on learning and partnerships with industry experts. It prepared a skilled workforce that drives economic growth in the UK.

Finland: National Coding Initiative

In 2016, Finland integrated coding into its national core curriculum. Programming became part of subjects like mathematics rather than a standalone subject.

The Finnish National Agency for Education led this initiative to build digital literacy early on. Age-appropriate programming concepts were introduced at various grade levels.

A tutor-teacher model supports educators alongside online resources like MOOCs and digital libraries.

Japan: Programming in Schools

Japan made programming education mandatory in elementary schools starting in 2020. The Ministry of Education expanded it to junior high schools in 2021 and high schools in 2022.

The focus is on developing logical reasoning rather than just teaching coding languages. Students learn how technology can solve real problems through projects like robotics and innovation labs.

United States – CSforAll

CSforAll is a nationwide initiative started in 2016. Its goal is making computer science education accessible to every student, especially underrepresented groups.

This effort involves collaboration between schools and industry partners while preparing teachers effectively. CSforAll has significantly impacted Computer Science education across the U.S.

What Ghana Can Learn from These Initiatives

Ghana's One Million Coders initiative offers a chance for sustainable design based on global success stories:

1. Make It Locally Relevant:
Design a curriculum that reflects local industries and opportunities.

2. Bring the Private Sector On Board:
Involve tech companies for mentorship and resources.

3. Prioritize Creativity:
Encourage creativity alongside technical skills like coding.

4. Invest in Trainers:
Focus on empowering educators with ongoing support and training.

5. Close the Access Gap:
Ensure equitable access to learning resources for all youth across regions.

Ghana’s One Million Coders initiative can shift narratives positively if implemented thoughtfully based on these lessons.


About the Author

Doreen Aglago-Cofie is a Digital Transformation professional supporting public actors on development topics related to Ghana's Digital sector advancement.
Connect via LinkedIn: [Doreen Aglago-Cofie](https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreencofie/)