The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Mr Samuel Nartey George has announced the Ministry’s commitment to completing the Digital Youth Village within three months.
According to him, the facility will be operated in collaboration with the University of Ghana to serve as a hub for training and innovation.
He disclosed this on Wednesday in Accra when a delegation from the University of Ghana (UG) visited him to explore collaborative opportunities in digital innovation, skills development and policy alignment.
Mr George emphasized the crucial role of universities in this initiative stating that, “the Ministry would act as an enabler for technology adoption across various sectors, including agriculture and health, leveraging AI and other emerging technologies.”
The Minister expressed the Ministry’s openness to partner with academia in shaping policies and revealed plans to replicate such centers across the country, integrating them into a broader ecosystem to support national innovation.
He mentioned the expansion of the “One Million Coders” program aimed at reskilling and upskilling Ghana’s workforce.
Discussions also included the formation of a steering committee to evaluate existing training programs and develop a unified national curriculum for technological skills, subject to approval by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).
Upcoming initiatives mentioned were an AI design hackathon for persons with disabilities scheduled for May and the 19th International Conference on Advanced Materials (ICAM), which UG will host in collaboration with International Union of Materials Research Societies (IUMRS) and the African Materials Research Society (AMRS).
The Director of the Research and Innovation Directorate at UG, Professor Dodoo-Arhin, emphasized the University’s commitment to supporting national digital initiatives. He articulated the need for alignment between UG’s research and innovation efforts and government agendas, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and coding.
He showcased UG’s proactive approach to innovation, noting initiatives like hackathons aimed at equipping youth with essential skills.
Professor Dodoo-Arhin emphasized UG’s readiness to provide space, expertise and certification support for government-led training programs, including curriculum development and short courses under the coders’ initiative.
Margaret Adjeley Sowah, ISD
