GIFEC hands over 400 laptops to 7 training centres
The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) has handed over 400 laptop computers and their accessories to seven selected training centres in some municipalities and districts in the Eastern Region through the government’s flagship of One Million Coders Programme.
The training centres are the New Juaben South, Lower Manya Krobo, Yilo Krobo, Afram Plains North, Afram Plains South, Upper West Akyem and Upper Manya Krobo.
Each of the training centres received 50 laptop computers as part of the government's efforts to equip young people with coding and digital literacy skills.
The laptops that were presented were the first physical phase of the distribution to boost the implementation of the government's one million Coders Programme.
Teaching and learning
It was also to enhance the teaching and learning of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in such areas within the region.
At a short ceremony to officially hand over the laptops at Koforidua last Monday (May 11), the Eastern Regional Manager of GIFEC, Ali Akyena Abubakar, said the gesture was part of GIFEC's vision of bridging the digital divide across the region.
He stated that the initiative formed part of efforts to bridge the digital divide by extending ICT infrastructure and services to underserved communities in the region.
Mr Abubakar said the study of ICT was absolutely essential because the world had become increasingly digitised and that the demand for skilled professionals in such an area continued to be on the rise.
Digital economy
According to Mr Abubakar, the programme would provide a solid, structured pathway into the digital economy, including internships and job placements with other partner technological firms.
Job creation
He also told the gathering that the initiative would help to create more job opportunities for young people to work as freelance web developers, mobile application testers and software support assistants without travelling to urban areas to seek for greener pastures.
Some of the laptops presented to the centres
Mr Abubakar expressed appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama for taking steps to launch the initiative in 2025, describing it as an ambitious one that is aimed at equipping one million young Ghanaians with coding and digital literacy skills.
He advised the municipal and district coordinators, as well as the beneficiaries, to use the laptops responsibly to ensure that they would serve the people in the communities.
Partners
The Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, stated that the programme was being implemented through the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, together with NIITA and Global Technology Firms, which sought to equip the youth with one million jobs.
She indicated that such a programme would also help local businesses and district assemblies to benefit from digital solutions developed by locally trained coders.
Mrs Awatey, therefore, cautioned managers and coordinators against hoarding or misusing the equipment.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Yilo Krobo, Francis Addo Akumatey, who received the laptops on behalf of his colleagues, commended the government for fulfilling its commitment to equip the youth with employable digital skills to make them useful citizens of the country.
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