GCTU key partner in nation’s digital vision — Deputy Minister
The government has identified the Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU) as a key partner in advancing its digital transformation agenda to nurture the next generation of tech-driven startups, the Deputy Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Mohammed Adams Sukparu, has said.
He explained that the university’s specialised focus on telecommunications, computing and innovation positioned it as a vital player in training skilled workforce for the country’s rapidly evolving digital space.
The deputy minister was speaking at the commissioning of the institution’s centre for innovation, technology, skills and entrepreneurship training (CITSET) in Accra, yesterday.
Mr Sukparu, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sissala West, further described the facility as a “pathway to entrepreneurship and technology commercialisation” that aligned perfectly with the government’s digital economy policy built on universal connectivity, digital skills, entrepreneurship and emerging technologies.
The new centre, he added, would serve as both a skills hub and an incubator for startups, driving innovation and economic growth.
Cyber resilience
The deputy minister acknowledged that today’s digital landscape, resilience and security were more important than ever as cyber threats, data privacy issues, intrusions and malicious actors posed real risks to national development.
“That is why GCTU’s proposal for a top-notch cyber lab is both timely and strategic.
This lab will provide hands-on training in areas like digital forensics, penetration testing, threat intelligence, skill architectures, and ethical hacking against real-world cyber attacks.
“With this facility, students will gain practical experience that will make them job-ready and enhance the country's overall cyber resilience,” he said.
In line with that, Mr Sukparu said the ministry would prioritise support for GCTU’s campus infrastructure, including the establishment of a world-class cybersecurity laboratory under a public-private partnership framework, improve connectivity, access to data centres, campus-wide Wi-Fi and cloud systems.
“By launching this centre, we are lighting a beacon of hope for students, innovators, and our nation.
It is not just a building; it is a promise that Ghana will nurture talent, drive innovation, and compete globally,” he said.
Silicon Valley
The Vice-Chancellor of GCTU, Professor Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa, described the launch of the centre as a major milestone in the university’s transformation agenda to become the nation’s “Silicon Valley” which is already “taking shape”.
He said the CITSET represented the fusion of theory and practice — a space where students, researchers, and entrepreneurs collaborated to develop real-world solutions for national development.
Prof. Afoakwa said that some structures and modern laboratories, including a cybersecurity lab supported by the ministry, were underway to equip students with the tools to code, build and innovate for a sustainable digital future.
Recounting his vision since assuming office in 2021, he said his goal had been to transform GCTU into a regional hub for technology and innovation.
“Our mission is simple — to give students not just the tools to adapt to the new world, but the confidence and competencies to shape it,” he said.
