The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations (MoCDTI), Hon. Samuel Nartey George, has called on male leaders to leverage their influence in shaping policies that promote gender equity and to take an active role in mentoring and sponsoring women in the ICT sector.
Delivering the keynote address at the third edition of the Females in Tech (FEMITECH) 2025 Conference, held at the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (GI-KACE), Sam George emphasized the importance of the conference in empowering women in technology. He highlighted how the platform inspires women to take bold steps in their careers, advocate for gender equity, and lead innovative initiatives that drive meaningful change in the tech industry.
He urged male leaders to step up as mentors and sponsors by offering guidance and championing the career advancement of women within their organizations.
“Although progress has been made in supporting women in ICT, there is still much work to be done. We must push for hiring practices that prioritize diversity by implementing unbiased recruitment processes and actively seeking a diverse pool of candidates,” he stated.
Sam George also pledged that under his tenure as Minister, the MoCDTI would implement positive discrimination in favour of women-led tech businesses, aiming to increase female participation in ICT and encourage more women to take up leadership roles.
In his welcome address, Ing. Dr. Collins Yeboah-Afari, the Director-General of GI-KACE, described the underrepresentation of women in technology—where they make up less than a third of the global workforce—as alarming.
He reaffirmed GI-KACE’s commitment to its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, which are designed to encourage more women to pursue careers in ICT and ultimately secure leadership positions in the tech industry.
Key Speakers and the Launch of the ‘Girls Clinic’ Initiative
The conference featured several distinguished speakers, including:
- Prof. Elsie Effah Kaufmann, Associate Professor and Dean of the School of Engineering Sciences at the University of Ghana.
- Ing. Dr. Lucy Agyepong, Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Academic City University College.
- Oheneyere Augustina Asare Osei, Head of Government Relations at Ghana Gas.
- Dr. G. Ayorkor Korsah, Head of Department, Computer Science and Information Systems- Ashesi University
- Edna Engmann, Head, Transformation Programmes – Fidelity Bank
- Ama Adorkor Edjah, Ag. Chief Finance Officer- AT
- Frederick Yeboah, Director Research and Innovation
This year’s FEMITECH Conference, marking its third edition, was simultaneously held across five regions: Oti, Greater Accra, Upper East, Bono, and Ashanti. A key highlight of the event was the launch of the “Girls Clinic” initiative, which provides mentorship, training, and resources to help young women and girls develop skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
The annual FEMITECH Conference serves as a platform to bring together women from academia, industry, and beyond to discuss critical issues surrounding gender equality in technology, share experiences, and explore emerging trends in the sector.