The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) has assumed a central role in the implementation of the government’s ambitious One Million Coders initiative, aimed at equipping Ghanaian youth with essential digital skills to thrive in the global tech economy.
Speaking on the sidelines of the programme’s official launch, Chief Executive Officer of GIFEC, Dr. Rashid Tanko Computer, expressed optimism about the initiative’s transformative potential, particularly for rural and underserved communities.
“It is exciting news for the good people of Ghana, especially the youth, that the president has formally launched the One Million Coders,” said Dr. Computer.
“GIFEC is providing the infrastructure base for this programme.”
As part of the infrastructure support, GIFEC is revitalizing its network of Community Information Centres (CICs) across all districts in the country. These centres, previously underutilized or in disrepair, are being refurbished and fitted with state-of-the-art equipment, including computers and high-speed connectivity tools.
“All the computers they are using here were provided by GIFEC,” he added.
“This tells you the contribution of GIFEC to this noble idea of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama.”
GIFEC’s role extends beyond just hardware. The agency is also ensuring that connectivity and digital access are not limited to urban areas. Through its Rural Telephony Project, efforts are underway to bring reliable mobile network access to some of Ghana’s most remote communities.
The programme’s launch was marked by the activation of four regional centres, with plans already in motion to expand to all regions by the following week.
“GIFEC will be in the forefront delivering computers and laptops to the centres to make sure that all these our brothers and sisters will enjoy the fruit of their labour under the One Million Coding system,” Dr. Computer affirmed.
The initiative is a collaborative effort between GIFEC, the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (which will provide the instructors), and major telecom operators, including MTN, Telecel, and IT Consortium.
By: Shadrack Odame Agyare | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
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