Ghana Mandates Nationwide Coding Education to Bridge Digital Skills Gap

Ghana will require all public university students to complete coding courses as part of their degrees under a sweeping national program aimed at training one million citizens in digital skills by 2028.

The policy, announced by Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George, forms the cornerstone of the One Million Coders Initiative launched by President John Mahama to meet growing demands for tech talent in Africa’s rapidly digitizing economies.

Speaking during a televised interview, George revealed agreements with vice-chancellors of Ghana’s 478,000-student public university system to integrate coding modules into curricula. Private institutions will follow suit, with logistical support from the government. The move comes as employers increasingly prioritize AI literacy and cybersecurity expertise over basic digital competencies. “Proficiency in Microsoft Office no longer suffices,” George noted. “Today’s civil servants and graduates must be AI-native to thrive.”

The program extends beyond academia. All government workers will undergo reskilling through partnerships between the Civil Service and regional innovation hubs. Community ICT centers 280 nationwide will offer free courses in data governance, cybersecurity, and entrepreneurship targeting non-tertiary-educated citizens. Early pilots in Accra, Kumasi, Sunyani, and Tamale have enrolled 520 trainees across six certification tracks, including Data Protection Management and Network Support.

Content development, led by the Kofi Annan ICT Centre of Excellence, will expand with input from tech giants like Google, Amazon, and MTN Group. The latter plans to establish an AI research lab in Ghana, its second in Africa. Over 92,000 applicants have already registered for future cohorts, far exceeding initial projections.

To sustain momentum, the government is finalizing a Start-up Bill and a $50 million Fintech Fund to support graduates launching tech ventures. Parallel talks with Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firms aim to position Ghana as a regional hub for digital services under its 24-hour economy policy.

Critics question the feasibility of mandatory coding education amid infrastructure gaps. However, officials point to existing collaborations, such as the University of Ghana’s AI-focused Digital Youth Village, and over 40 proposed university-led training models as evidence of institutional readiness.

The initiative mirrors broader African efforts to future-proof workforces. Neighboring Nigeria and Kenya have implemented similar tech literacy drives, though none as comprehensive in scope. With sub-Saharan Africa needing 230 million digital jobs by 2030, Ghana’s bet on coding as a core competency reflects urgent regional priorities balancing immediate skill shortages with long-term aspirations for homegrown innovation ecosystems.

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