By Priscilla Oye Ofori
Accra, Sept. 10, GNA – Mr Samuel Nartey George, Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, has urged beneficiaries of the Girls in ICT Initiative to use technology to solve real-life problems and improve lives.
He said the girls must see technology as a tool for national development and innovation.
Mr George made the call at the opening of the 2026 National Girls in ICT Day celebration in Accra, held on the theme: “AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future.”
The 100 girls, drawn from the Volta and Upper West regions, were selected from thousands of participants for their outstanding performance during the Girls in ICT training programme.
“Never underestimate what you can achieve. See yourselves as the next great software developers, AI researchers and cybersecurity experts that Africa needs, the next Minister for Communication, or even the first female President,” he said.
Mr George said the initiative, a flagship programme of the Ministry, sought to bridge the gender gap in Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, software engineering and data science.
He said the Government was investing in young girls to become innovators, developers and digital leaders who would drive Ghana’s digital transformation.
“Be bold enough to dream, disciplined enough to work hard, and courageous enough to embrace challenges,” the Minister said.
Mr George urged the girls to approach every activity with enthusiasm, curiosity and an open mind, and become ambassadors of digital technology in their schools and communities.
He said the Government, through programmes such as Girls in ICT and the One Million Coders Programme, was committed to ensuring that no Ghanaian girl was left behind in the digital age.
The Minister said every accomplished female professional, engineer or minister the girls would meet had started with the same curiosity, determination and ambition.
Dr Collins Afari Yeboah, Director-General of the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, encouraged the girls to become role models and ambassadors for their peers.
“Your journey can really inspire someone who may currently believe that ICT, STEM, or AI is not for her. So, share your knowledge, support your peers, and encourage younger girls to explore opportunities in technology just as you have also done,” he added.
Dr Yeboah noted that empowering girls with digital skills would contribute significantly to national development and help address the gender imbalance in the technology sector.
The five-day programme will offer participants opportunities to interact with leading ICT institutions and technology companies across the country.
Activities include mentorship sessions with accomplished female professionals, hands-on demonstrations of emerging technologies, coding and AI workshops, leadership development training, career guidance and team-building exercises.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah
By Priscilla Oye Ofori
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