One of the major reasons to increase digital inclusion and equip PWDs with internationally accepted ICT skills, the government has set aside 50,000 training spots for PWDs under the national One Million Coders Program.
In a significant step to increase digital inclusion and equip PWDs with internationally accepted ICT skills, the government has set aside 50,000 training spots for PWDs under the national One Million Coders Program. The fully financed training allocation is meant to make up for the low number of PWDs who participated in the program’s initial phase—just nine out of 859 trainees had disabilities—and enable more people to take advantage of the effort to guarantee inclusivity.
Announcement at 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities
At the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) celebration in Accra on Wednesday, Mr. Samuel Nartey George, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, revealed that the slots would be dispersed among all 16 regions to ensure equity.
Collaboration to Identify Beneficiaries
He also stated that the Ministry of Communication was working closely with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection and the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) to identify beneficiaries. “This allocation is to ensure that PWDs are not left behind in Ghana’s digital transformation agenda,” he made clear.
Coordination of the IDPD Commemoration
The National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Ghana Federation of Disabilities (GFD) jointly coordinated the commemoration.
Overview of the One Million Coders Programme
The One Million Coders Programme is a government effort that aims to train one million Ghanaians in coding, cybersecurity, data analytics, and related subjects during the next four years. President John Dramani Mahama inaugurated the program in April this year, and implementation is anticipated to begin immediately.
Certification and Programme Launch Timeline
Mr. George, on the other hand, indicated that the program’s delayed launch was due to efforts to obtain internationally acknowledged certifications from Google, Microsoft, and Cisco, and that it would begin early next year.
Employment Opportunities Through International Certification
“These globally accepted certificates will enable PWDs and other beneficiaries to qualify for remote jobs with international companies, which often do not accept local certificates for employment,” he told me.
Digital Inclusion Gaps and Government Commitments
Mr. George stated that Ghana had achieved considerable strides in inclusive education, ICT accessibility norms, digital public services, and encouragement for indigenous innovation. Despite this, he stated that large inequalities remained, with many, notably people with disabilities, unable to afford or access digital tools.
Measures to Improve Digital Accessibility
Mr. George plans to enforce global accessibility standards across all government digital platforms. He will also collaborate with the NCA and telecommunications companies to improve affordable and accessible communications, such as concessionary data packages and inclusive customer service channels.
Device Accessibility Requirements
The NCA has initiated conversations with device manufacturers to guarantee all mobile devices entering Ghana meet minimal accessibility requirements by 2026.
Gender Ministry’s Role in Disability Inclusion
Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, underlined the government’s commitment to improving disability-inclusive policies, increasing access to assistive technologies, and expanding social protection systems.
Review of the Persons with Disabilities Act
She stated that the Persons with Disabilities Act of 2006 had been reviewed and was undergoing final consultation prior to submission to Cabinet.
Digital Equipment Support for Special Schools
I She also stated that the Ghana Digital Acceleration Project had purchased digital equipment including as desktop computers, laptops, accessible software, and braille devices for seven special schools in order to improve digital literacy among disabled children.
NCA’s Accessibility-Based Applications Project
Mr. Suleman Salifu, Deputy Director, Technical Operations at the NCA, emphasised the Authority’s efforts to improve digital accessibility. This includes the development of an Accessibility-Based Applications Project (ABAP) to upgrade the NCA’s digital platforms to accommodate users with visual, auditory, and motor impairments.
Regulatory Commitment to Persons With Disabilities
He emphasised the NCA’s commitment to prioritising the needs of PWDs and disadvantaged groups in its regulatory activities, as stated by Act 769.
Response From the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations
Mr. Joseph Atsu Homadzi, President of the GFD, praised the government for creating specialised training slots and refocusing on digital accessibility. Learn more about Ghana’s Digital Future: Policy, Infrastructure, and the Strategic Role of GIX
