MTN Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to digital inclusion by investing over GHS17.6 million in the Girls-In-ICT programme, which has so far trained more than 15,000 girls across the country.
Speaking at the climax of the Volta Region edition of the programme, Adwoa Wiafe, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN Ghana, highlighted the company’s strategic collaboration with the Ministry of Communications, Digitalisation, and Digital Technology and Innovation to help bridge the gender gap in digital skills.
Since 2021, MTN has scaled up its support for the initiative, which originally began as part of its 25th anniversary, with a pledge of GHS10 million. By 2024, the investment had risen to GHS15.6 million, and now exceeds GHS17 million. The programme trains girls aged 9 to 15 in both basic and advanced digital skills under annual themes such as Connected Girls, Digital Skills for Life, and Leadership. In addition, more than 1,200 teachers have been trained, and 197 ICT centres have been established to support continued learning in schools.
According to Madam Wiafe, the programme has made a visible impact by empowering girls from deprived and rural communities, including girls with disabilities.
“This program is transforming lives. I met a young woman from the 2019 cohort now studying ICT at university. The results are tangible,” she said.
MTN’s support also includes distributing laptops to top-performing girls and their trainers, helping to promote equal access to digital tools and education.
Each year, the top 100 girls are awarded laptops. A key feature of the programme is the annual Open Day in Accra, where high-performing participants are brought in for a week-long ICT immersion experience. The event includes mentorship sessions led by prominent women in technology and government.
“We believe in inclusivity at all levels. This programme has embraced the needs of differently-abled girls and ensures their participation in the digital revolution,” Wiafe added.
Beyond Girls-In-ICT, MTN supports broader digital education through its Foundation. The company has helped fund ICT laboratories, libraries, and robotics centres in about 30 schools, including a state-of-the-art facility for Mamfe Girls, winners of the World Robotics Competition two years in a row. The Foundation is also active in universities and continues to offer scholarships in STEM-related fields.
Looking ahead to 2025, MTN has committed an additional GHS2 million to support ongoing Girls-In-ICT activities, reinforcing its belief in practical, hands-on training.
“Digital skills are essential for future employment. It’s not something you can learn only from books—it must be practiced,” Madam Wiafe said.
MTN staff members are also actively involved in training and mentorship sessions, promoting volunteerism, leadership, and time management to help raise the confidence and ambition of participants.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation has announced plans to establish a Girls-In-ICT Trust Fund to ensure the sustainability and expansion of the programme.
“We are doing this not only for MTN, but for Ghana’s progress. We want our girls to have the skills and tools to lead in the digital age,” Madam Wiafe concluded.
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