ALX Ghana brought together some of the country’s most impactful organisations in youth and digital development at an event held on June 10, 2025, under the theme “Driving Ghana’s Next Generation of Digital Talent”.
The gathering, which took place at ALX’s Tech hub at 1 Airport Square, was more than just a celebration of progress, but an emphatic call for collective action.
At the heart of the event was a shared commitment: to rally around the government’s One Million Coders Initiative, a flagship project of President John Mahama, aimed at equipping one million young Ghanaians with digital skills for the future of work.
ALX brought together changemakers from across sectors to share insights, forge partnerships, and most importantly, amplify the work being done in the broader digital ecosystem.
Representing a diverse yet united front, four ecosystem partners: Generation Ghana, JA Africa, Coral Reef Innovation Hub, and Implementers Ghana, together with ALX shared the impactful work they have been doing across communities to build youth capacity in digital literacy and future-forward skills.
Although not all partners in the ecosystem could be present, the five who participated painted a vivid picture of a movement already in motion.
Coral Reef Innovation Hub shared their work with community-driven innovation spaces. JA Africa highlighted their entrepreneurial training programs, which primarily focus on junior high school students. Generation Ghana showcased their immersive employment initiatives.
Implementers Ghana spoke about their efforts in developing local talent. Across all the presentations, one message stood out clearly: collaboration is the new currency of transformation.
In the words of Nana Darko Asiedu, Country Manager of ALX Ghana, “We are here to represent a movement. A collective of organisations working to ensure Ghana’s youth are ready, not just for jobs, but for impact.”
The event also drew the presence of influential industry figures whose commitment to youth empowerment and digital progress further amplified the message in the room.
Notably, Nana Professor Oheneba Boachie-Adjei Woahene II, who is the Board Chair of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation and Board Chair of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Otumfuo’s Hiahene.
The international diplomatic community was represented by Roey Gilad, Ambassador of Israel to Ghana, whose presence highlighted the value of cross-border partnerships in digital advancement.
From the private sector, industry pioneer Prince Kofi Amoabeng, Serial Entrepreneur and Founder of UT Holdings, stood alongside Adwoa Wiafe, Chief Corporate Services & Sustainability Officer of MTN and George Ofosu Boateng, Head of Digital Channels, Ecobank, each reinforcing their organisation’s stake in developing a digitally fluent youth population.
The keynote address by Samuel Nartey George, Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, was a blueprint for national advancement.
He emphasised that digital literacy is not optional in today’s world. It is foundational.
“Digital technology has become the most democratic tool of empowerment,” Sam George said.
“Our duty as a government is to provide an enabling environment, but we cannot do it alone. We need partners like ALX and every player here today to push forward our One Million Coders agenda.”
He also highlighted a critical truth: that in the past, Ghana’s primary exports were cocoa and gold. In the next chapter of the nation’s story, it must be talent.
“The Ghanaian youth must be our greatest export — digital, skilled, and globally competitive.”
His speech was both visionary and pragmatic, urging synergy between government and private sector stakeholders.
A Marketplace of Ideas: The Panel and Fireside Chat
At the heart of the event was a powerful panel discussion on how partnerships—across government, industry, and international allies—can accelerate digital skills and talent in Ghana.
The session, moderated by Esinam Adorkor, Program Lead at the Mastercard Foundation, set the tone for an engaging exploration of innovation, impact, and collaboration.
Ambassador Roey Gilad of Israel emphasised that youth are often the vanguard of technological revolutions, referencing Israel’s own journey.
He then went on to praise Ghana’s digital progress, describing the One Million Coders initiative as “a healthy experiment” with strong potential.
He said, “There is a lot to learn from Ghana,” and expressed hope that the country could become “a hub for high-tech on the continent.”
From the banking sector, George Ofosu Boateng, Head of Digital Channels at Ecobank, offered a pragmatic view of digital transformation in finance.
With Ecobank’s bold vision to reach 100 million customers by 2030, he stressed the need to move beyond isolated efforts.
“We are doing great things but often in silos. We need to connect the dots,” he said, highlighting partnerships such as Ecobank’s collaboration with MTN, which has already delivered over $650 million in microloans.
“Digitisation must be measured by the value it brings to the customer — speed, convenience, satisfaction.”
Adwoa Wiafe of MTN Ghana expanded the conversation, stressing that access is fundamental.
“Everyone deserves the benefits of modern connectivity,” she stated, highlighting MTN’s investments in rural infrastructure and its zero-rated Digital Skills Academy with Coursera. MTN’s goal, she said, is to support a future where “the next big thing comes from Africa.”
The dialogue deepened during a fireside chat on mentoring the digital generation, moderated by Nana Adjoa Adobea, Senior Partner at Afrimire Advisors.
Prof. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei Woahene II, as part of this discussion, emphasised the importance of intergenerational responsibility and ethical grounding in an era of rapid digital transformation.
“As we advance technologically, our values must anchor us,” he urged, reinforcing the need for strong role models.
Prince Kofi Amoabeng brought a candid, philosophical perspective to the conversation.
“We are here to make the world better,” he said, calling for innovation built on integrity, equity, and the spirit of Ubuntu.
He warned that a digital revolution without ethics and shared purpose is bound to collapse, and stressed that mentorship must go beyond skills to shape the mindsets needed for national development, supported by strong infrastructure, clear regulation, and access to financing.
The Path Forward
As the event drew to a close with remarks from Nana Darko, there was a unanimous conviction in the room: no single organisation can achieve this alone, but together, we are unstoppable.
This event marked a true convergence of purpose. It affirmed that Ghana’s digital future is not a distant vision but a living reality being shaped daily by organisations willing to build bridges, share knowledge, and uplift the next generation.
If the spirit of collaboration witnessed at ALX Ghana’s hub is any indication, then the One Million Coders dream is not only within reach; it is inevitable.
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
