By Mr David Gyedu, Cybersecurity Expert & IT Director, DK Cyber
The recent parliamentary exchange regarding coding has sparked significant discussion across Ghana’s tech community and beyond. As someone who has spent over 10 years in cybersecurity and digital infrastructure development, I believe this moment presents an opportunity to examine how we communicate about technology in policy contexts, and what this reveals about our national digital transformation journey.
The Context of Technical Communication
Having observed similar discussions across various African countries implementing digital strategies, I’ve noticed a recurring pattern: the gap between technical implementation language and policy framework language. This isn’t unique to Ghana; it’s a global challenge, where technical practitioners and policy architects often operate in different conceptual frameworks.
Different Lenses, Different Definitions
When Deputy Minister Mohammed Adam Sukparu described coding as “providing training for young men and women in the IT space, training them in web design, training them in how to build software,” he was speaking from a policy implementation perspective rather than a technical definition.
From a cybersecurity and IT governance standpoint, this distinction is crucial. In policy circles, “coding” often refers to the entire educational ecosystem and capacity-building framework. In technical circles, however, it refers specifically to the act of writing instructions for computers.
Technical Analysis: What Was Actually Said
Let me break down the response from a systems thinking perspective.
Policy Framework Context: The Deputy Minister appeared to be addressing coding as a developmental and educational initiative. From this lens, coding becomes:
- A capacity-building strategy
- A youth empowerment program
- A digital skills development framework
- An economic transformation tool
Technical Context: The technical community expected a definition focused on:
- Programming languages and syntax
- Algorithm development
- Software engineering principles
- Computer science fundamentals
Industry Perspective: Both Views Have Merit
In my experience, I’ve seen how these perspectives complement rather than contradict each other.
The Policy Perspective is Strategic
When implementing national digital strategies, coding education isn’t just about teaching Python or JavaScript. It’s about:
- Infrastructure development – Building human capital for the digital economy
- Economic diversification – Creating new employment sectors
- Youth engagement – Providing alternative career pathways
- Innovation ecosystem – Establishing a foundation for tech entrepreneurship
The Technical Perspective is Operational
Technical practitioners focus on:
- Skill acquisition – Specific programming competencies
- Problem-solving – Algorithmic thinking and logic
- Tool mastery – Development environments and frameworks
- Code quality – Best practices and standards
What This Reveals About Our Digital Maturity
This conversation reflects a positive sign in Ghana’s digital transformation journey: a vibrant tech community that values precision and accountability. The passionate response from the technical sector highlights:
- Technical standards matter – Developers uphold high expectations for accuracy
- Engagement is high – The tech community is involved in national conversations
- Expertise is present – Practitioners can identify and articulate nuanced issues
Lessons from Digital Transformation Leaders
Countries like Estonia, Singapore, and Rwanda faced similar communication gaps in their early digital rollouts. Success came when they developed translation mechanisms between policy and technical communities.
Estonia’s Experience
Ministers initially used general terms like “digital infrastructure,” while technicians focused on protocols and system design. The breakthrough came through bridge communication protocols.
Singapore’s Approach
The Smart Nation initiative succeeded partly due to technical advisory councils that helped shape accurate, accessible public communication about technical matters.
A Constructive Path Forward
This moment is not a failure — it’s an opportunity for improvement.
For Policymakers:
- Technical advisory integration – Regular consultation with experts
- Context clarity – Clearly state whether discussing policy or implementation
- Continuous learning – Stay updated on evolving tech language
For the Technical Community:
- Constructive engagement – Offer education, not just criticism
- Bridge building – Help translate technical precision for policymakers
- Collaborative support – Contribute to shaping national digital initiatives
For Ghana’s Digital Future:
- Unified vision – Align policy goals with technical realities
- Communication protocols – Standardize how we talk about tech in public forums
- Educational investment – Raise technical literacy at all governance levels
The Bigger Picture: Ghana’s Digital Potential
From a cybersecurity lens, Ghana is well-positioned for digital leadership in Africa:
- Infrastructure – Improved connectivity and data center growth
- Human capital – Expanding pool of technical talent
- Innovation – A growing startup and tech ecosystem
- Policy support – Government commitment to digital transformation
This coding conversation is not a setback — it’s a catalyst. It shows that Ghanaians care deeply about how digital progress is communicated and implemented.
Recommendations for Moving Forward
Immediate Actions:
- Technical advisory council – Formal board to support digital policy
- Communication training – Equip policymakers with basic technical literacy
- Community engagement – Regular forums for dialogue between government and tech sector
Medium-Term Strategies:
- Digital literacy programs – Across all government levels
- Industry partnerships – Active collaboration with tech companies
- International benchmarking – Learn from global best practices
Long-Term Vision:
- Integrated approach – Seamless alignment between vision and execution
- Innovation culture – Foster respect for both policy foresight and technical depth
- Regional leadership – Make Ghana a model for digital governance in West Africa
The recent coding debate reflects a maturing democracy where tech professionals actively engage in shaping public discourse. That’s a strength — not a weakness.
The Deputy Minister’s comments, when viewed through a policy lens, highlighted systemic and educational goals. The tech community’s critique showed a strong commitment to technical excellence.
We don’t need to choose between policy or precision. Ghana’s progress depends on both.
Let’s use this moment to build a stronger bridge between policy vision and technical execution — and ensure our digital transformation benefits from strategic thinking and technical clarity.
Views expressed are his professional analysis.
