520 Public sector staff trained in DigSmart
The Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has said the pilot digital skills training programme, “DigSMART”, is a crucial step towards advancing a digitally enabled public sector and enhancing the service delivery of Ghanaians.
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She said this when 520 pubic and civil staff from across 53 ministries, departments and agencies graduated from the training programme dubbed “DigSMART Scale-Up initiative” in Accra.
The graduates were made up of 262 officers, 207 managers, and 51 leaders across 53 ministries, departments and agencies.
Events
The event is aimed at promoting the digitalisation of service delivery within the public sector.
The graduation followed after an intensive four-month training session, which ran from February to May 2024, and after graduates completed their capstone projects, a critical requirement for graduation.
Some of the projects undertaken by the graduates included digitising land ownership, ultimately the acquisition of seismic data from seismic stations to influence decision-making, and developing online ticketing at Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.
The event saw three of the graduands awarded for their outstanding performance and contributions.
The initiative, she said, aligned with the government’s efforts to build a robust digital economy, and foster a digitally adept public sector.
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“We want to develop visionary leaders, enhance their ability to navigate tech policy deliver on tech transformation, and drive tech transformation, and cultivate a digital-first culture within our public institutions,” she added.
Inception
The inception of the programme, Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said, aimed to address some of the challenges posed by the pandemic by prioritising fast-track digitalisation.
"We also recognised that our digital Ghana agenda could not be realised if public and civil servants remained spectators. This initiative ensures they understand and drive the process," she said.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful reaffirmed their commitment to broadening digital skills across the country, saying: “The programme has expanded from 170 last year to 830 participants and now also reaches regions beyond Accra, extending to cities like Sunyani and Bolgatanga”.
Civil service
The Chief Director, Office of the Head of the Civil Service, Eunice Osae, on behalf of the service, said the initiative would fast-track digitalisation in the civil service, ensuring that staff were well-prepared to incorporate advanced digital technologies into their workflows.
She said the participation of their members showed their commitment and readiness to embrace the digital age and transform how they live, work and interact.
Background
On February 7, 2024, the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation (MoCD) launched the DigSMART Scale-Up initiative at the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (GI-KACE) aimed at equipping participants with essential digital skills.
The programme covered areas like digital strategy, leadership, governance, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT). The DigSMART Scale-Up Programme focused on identifying problems where digital technology can provide solutions, developing measurable and attainable goals, and executing digital projects that prioritise the needs and experiences of Ghanaian citizens.