Sam George: Comms Minister Distributes Laptops to Kickstart Nationwide One Million Coders Programme

The Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has officially distributed laptops to various institutions and training centres to support the nationwide rollout of the One Million Coders Programme (OMCP). The presentation took place on Friday, April 10, 2026, marking a significant step in the government’s efforts to equip young Ghanaians with in-demand coding and digital skills for employment in the rapidly evolving global digital economy.

The One Million Coders Programme, a flagship digital initiative, was originally launched nearly a year ago by President John Dramani Mahama at the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT. The programme began with a pilot phase that targeted 500 trainees across four key centres located in Accra, Kumasi, Sunyani, and Tamale.

However, the initiative quickly exceeded expectations, as nearly 94,000 applications were received within just 48 hours of opening the portal. This overwhelming interest prompted authorities to expand the pilot phase to accommodate approximately 1,000 participants, doubling the original target and highlighting the strong demand for digital skills training among Ghanaian youth.

Speaking during the laptop distribution ceremony held at the Ministry’s conference room, Samuel Nartey George explained that valuable lessons learned during the pilot phase have been instrumental in shaping the structure of the nationwide rollout. He emphasized that the revised approach is focused not only on training but also on ensuring that participants acquire practical, job-ready skills that can translate into real employment opportunities.

Under Phase One of the national rollout, the programme will be implemented across 130 learning centres distributed throughout all 16 regions of Ghana. Each centre will be equipped with 50 specially configured laptops designed specifically for coding and digital training, ensuring uniformity in learning tools and access to modern technology.

The rollout is being executed in collaboration with key government agencies and institutions, including the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications, Ghana Digital Centres Limited, and the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT. These partnerships are expected to strengthen the programme’s implementation and provide the necessary infrastructure for effective training delivery.

Additionally, twelve universities have been selected to participate in the first phase of the programme. Notable among them are the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and the University of Cape Coast. These institutions will play a critical role in expanding access to digital education and fostering innovation among students.

The Minister also acknowledged the vital contribution of the private sector, particularly MTN Ghana, which provided support valued at approximately two million US dollars. This funding has been used to procure additional laptops for selected universities, further enhancing the programme’s capacity and reach.

According to the Ministry, the application portal for the programme will soon be reopened. This will allow individuals who previously applied to continue their registration process, while new applicants will be able to sign up through a simplified verification system integrated with the Ghana Card. This approach is intended to streamline registration and ensure transparency and accessibility.

To ensure effective management and support at the grassroots level, the government has recruited 130 constituency-level coordinators. These coordinators will oversee the operations of the learning centres, provide technical assistance to trainees, and ensure smooth implementation of the programme. There are also plans underway to expand the initiative to cover all constituencies nationwide, thereby increasing its impact.

The One Million Coders Programme is expected to play a transformative role in Ghana’s digital future. By equipping young people with skills in areas such as artificial intelligence, software development, and remote digital work, the initiative aims to build a highly skilled workforce capable of competing in the global job market and driving the country’s digital transformation agenda.