'Where the world is going, we cannot leave our youth behind in digital skills' - Bawumia 

Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has stressed the importance of equipping young Ghanaians with digital skills, citing the rapid global shift towards technology in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. 

Speaking in Ahwia during his engagement with stakeholders from the Kwabre East Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Dr. Bawumia reaffirmed his commitment to making Ghana a digital hub in Africa, with the youth at the forefront of this transformation.

"Where the world is going, we have to give our young people digital skills so they can take advantage of trends in the world. We cannot leave them behind," Dr. Bawumia said, emphasising the vast opportunities digital skills provide in today’s global economy. He highlighted the growing demand for digital expertise as a key enabler for young people to access job opportunities both locally and internationally.

Dr. Bawumia further explained that acquiring digital skills opens up a world of possibilities, enabling Ghanaians to work for companies anywhere in the world from the comfort of their homes. 

"Today, if a child is trained in digital skills, that child can sit anywhere in Ghana and work for a company anywhere in the world and make good money. It is already happening, and we need to expand this for more young Ghanaians to benefit," he said.

The Vice President went on to demonstrate the global reach of digital skills, noting, "You can be here in Boakra and be working for a company in America, Canada, or the UK and still receive your salary." He reiterated that digital skills are not confined by geographical boundaries and offer a wealth of opportunities without the need to leave Ghana.

As part of his vision, Dr. Bawumia announced plans to train one million young Ghanaians in digital skills, with the aim of reaching every district in the country. "I want to train about 5,000 youth in every district on digital skills to create more job opportunities for them," he said, further underscoring the broad scope of the initiative.

Dr. Bawumia also pointed out that digital skills training is accessible to everyone, including those who may have dropped out of school for various reasons. "The good thing about digital skills training is that it does not require high levels of formal education. Even those who have, unfortunately, dropped out of school can be trained and turn out to be successful in this field."

Concluding his remarks, Dr. Bawumia stressed the importance of preparing the youth for the future. "This is where the world is going, and we cannot leave our young people out," he said, calling for widespread support to ensure the success of this initiative.