Renowned Ghanaian media personality Berlinda Addardey, popularly known as Berla Mundi, has urged women to use their ICT skills to transform their communities and the world at large.
In a transformative initiative aimed at bridging the gender gap in the tech sector, the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (GI-KACE), in collaboration with Glovo, the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, and the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation (MoCD), celebrated the successful completion of the first edition of the ‘Women in Tech’ Bootcamp to provide young women with the skills and knowledge they need to increase their employability in the tech sector.
The Women in Tech program received over 1,000 applicants, but only 100 young Ghanaian women between the ages of 22 and 35 were selected to undergo data analytics training to boost their digital skills.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Berla Mundi encouraged the 100 women who had just completed the program to use their newfound skills to transform their communities, countries, and the world.
“The world needs your talent, your ideas, and your passion, so don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zones and challenge the status quo. You have the power to make a real difference,” she said.
According to her, the Women in Tech initiative is a step towards fostering diversity and inclusion in the technology sector, focusing on the gender gap in the ICT industry.
“I know it’s not always easy being a woman in this field, but don’t let that discourage you. There are so many amazing women who have come before you and who are paving the way for the next generation. You are part of a powerful movement, and you have the potential to achieve great things,” she added.
The Director-General for GI-KACE, Dr. Collins Yeboah-Afari, indicated that there is still a significant gender gap in the ICT sector. According to him, this influenced the GI-KACE partnership with Glovo, the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, and the Ministry of Communication and Digitalisation designed to roll out free training in data analytics for women.
“GI-KACE is where many great dreams have been and are still birthed. I am particularly delighted that this graduating class adds up to the over 5,000 high-end skilled personnel the Centre has trained over the past year who are contributing their quota to the nation in various fields,” Dr. Yeboah-Afari disclosed.
Deputy Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Hon. Ama Pomaa Boateng, stated that, under the leadership of the Minister of Communication and Digitalisation, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the ministry seeks to inspire girls and young women to consider pursuing programs in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) by introducing them to career opportunities in the ICT industry and encouraging them to embrace ICT.
She expressed her gratitude to Glovo and the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications for their support, which has made it possible for the 100 women to overcome the barriers often faced in the tech sector through data analytics training. She added that numerous career opportunities await the participants because of the knowledge they have acquired.
“With this sponsored training by Glovo, and support from MoCD and GI-KACE, this program has provided a unique opportunity for our women to acquire essential digital skills, particularly in the field of Data Analytics,” she said.