The Deputy Director-General of the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (GI-KACE) and national coordinator of the One Million Coders programme, Hon. Mohammed Abdul-Aziz, has begun a series of high-level stakeholder engagements to ensure a flawless nationwide execution of the transformative digital skills training programme.
Hon. Mohammed Abdul‑Aziz,UG and GI-KACE delegates
Courtesy Visit to University of Ghana
As part of his engagements, Hon. Abdul-Aziz on Thursday led a delegation from GI-KACE on a courtesy visit to the University of Ghana, with the aim of assessing the institution’s readiness to serve as a strategic training hub for the initiative.
The team was welcomed by Prof. Olivia A.T. Frimpong Kwapong, Dean of the School of Continuing and Distance Education (SCDE), who facilitated a guided tour of the University’s e-learning and digital infrastructure facilities, including its Assistive Technology (AT) Lab a dedicated space that supports inclusive education for persons with disabilities.
During his interaction with the University’s leadership, Hon. Abdul-Aziz emphasized the urgency of the programme rollout, noting that institutional partnerships are crucial to delivering on the President’s vision. “We hope to achieve significant visibility by the end of the first quarter, as we work to demarcate training centres based on proximity, ensuring access for all Ghanaian youth. We are aiming to kick-start this first-class training in the first quarter of 2026,” he said.
Youth Engagement and Call to Action
In an unplanned but timely encounter, Hon. Abdul-Aziz visited an ongoing class session where he took the opportunity to encourage students to embrace the opportunity that the One Million Coders programme offers. “This is a free, life-changing initiative that will provide every Ghanaian youth the chance to gain globally recognized certification and future-proof their careers. I strongly urge you to take part,” he stated.
UG Pledges Institutional Support
Prof. Frimpong Kwapong expressed the University of Ghana’s enthusiasm and commitment to the programme, stating that it aligns perfectly with UG’s mission to foster national development through lifelong learning. She noted that the Vice Chancellor has pledged full institutional support, adding that the University’s 11 learning centres across the country offer a ready network for large-scale delivery.
“The University of Ghana is fully committed to supporting this important national project. We are proud to align ourselves with GI-KACE and the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation to help extend the frontiers of digital literacy,” she said.
On behalf of the VC of University of Ghana, the Provost of the College of Education, Prof. Samuel Codjoe, reiterated the College’s readiness to provide all necessary support. “We believe in the impact this programme can make and we are ready to assist in any capacity to make it a success,” he added.
Hon. Mohammed‑Aziz interacting with student .
Visit to NEIP and Partner Collaboration
Following the UG engagement, Hon. Abdul-Aziz led his team to pay a courtesy call on the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP). The meeting, which focused on strategic collaboration, was hosted by the CEO of NEIP, Mr. Eric Adjei, who pledged the agency’s support.
Mr. Adjei, who leads NEIP’s flagship youth employment initiative “Adwumawura”, shared valuable insights from project implementation and highlighted areas of synergy between the two programmes. “We see this as a complementary effort, and NEIP is ready to support the One Million Coders with outreach, mobilisation, and innovation resources,” he assured.
The GI-KACE Delegation
The GI-KACE delegation included Ms. Kobi Hemaa Osisiadan-Bekoe, Director of Corporate Affairs; Mr. Fredrick Yeboah, Director of Innovation; and Ms. Priscilla Hope, Project Manager.
A National Vision for Digital Empowerment
Appointed by President John Dramani Mahama to coordinate the initiative, Hon. Mohammed Abdul-Aziz is spearheading the ambitious vision of equipping one million Ghanaians with future-ready digital and coding skills.
Targeted at students, professionals, and digital beginners, the programme is designed to bridge Ghana’s digital divide, enhance youth employability, and position the country competitively in the global tech economy. International partners including Google, MTN, and Telecel are expected to support the initiative with certification and digital infrastructure.
Looking Ahead
With stakeholder engagements now underway, the One Million Coders Initiative is gaining momentum. As government, academia, and development partners join forces, the stage is set for nationwide rollout, anticipated to begin in early 2026, with training hubs to be announced in the coming months.