The Ministry of Communication, Digital Innovations, in collaboration with the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (KACE) and Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), has successfully mentored a total of one thousand girls from basic schools in the 18 districts of the Volta Region.
The mentorship event, held ahead of the climax of the three-week training program, aimed to equip and empower girls to excel in ICT alongside their male counterparts.
The program, themed “Girls in ICT for Inclusive Digital Transformation,” brought together seasoned female ICT professionals to share their experiences and inspire the young girls.
The organizers recognized the need to bridge the gap between men and women in ICT and STEM fields, as highlighted by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the Ministry’s commitment to promoting digital inclusion.
The training, which included mentorship sessions, was designed to motivate the girls to pursue careers in ICT and STEM.
The Ministry’s Director of Policy, Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation, Mr. Austin Hesse, explained that the mentorship program is a special event that brings industry experts, academicians, and teachers together to share their experiences with the young girls.
“The Mentorship program is a special event incorporated by Ghana as one of a kind, and so Ghana has been celebrated for taking up the ICT programs and blowing it big into another dimension.
“We invite female mentors who have made it in life in ICT, who can be Academicians, Teachers, Mathematicians, or industry experts, to have a peer talk with the girls, walk them through, and share their life experiences with them,” Mr. Hesse said.
The Ministry ensured that the program was inclusive, providing assisted programs for People Living with Disability (PWDs) to benefit from the training.
Mr. Hesse emphasized the importance of leaving no one behind, highlighting the need for continuous monitoring and support for the girls.
About one hundred teachers also benefited from the program, which aimed to equip them with the necessary skills to support the girls in their ICT journey.
The Ministry believes that continuous training and monitoring are essential for the success of the program.
The Girls in ICT Program is an annual event organized by the Ministry of Communication, with three thousand girls and three hundred teachers trained every year in three regions. The program’s impact is evident in the enthusiasm and confidence of the girls who have participated.
