By Joyce Kantam Kolamong
The Minister of Communications and Digitalization, Mrs Ursula Owusu Ekuful, has reiterated the need to narrow the gender digital gap since fewer girls have skills in computers or use computers.
According to her, the world is moving so fast in the digital space that girls stand the chance of being left out if nothing is done to train them in ICT.
Mrs. Ekuful said training girls in ICT will provide them with the basic ICT skills they need and boost their confidence to pursue career paths in ICT. She said this when she toured some ICT training centres in selected basic schools at Damongo in the West Gonja municipality of the Savannah region as part of the Girls in ICT project.
REPORT
About 1,000 girls from seven districts in the Savannah region have received training in information, Communication and Technology. The two weeks of intensive training organised by the Ministry, which began on April 25 this year, equipped the girls with basic computing, E-safety, coding, web design, development of games, and animation.
The aim is to expose them to the world of digitalization and future opportunities. The 5-day tour is to grant the minister an opportunity to familiarise herself with the developments and programs being undertaken by the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), under the Ministry of Communications.
She was accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer for GIFEC, Kofi Asante, and heads of departments at the Communications Ministry. She first paid a courtesy call on the Savannah Regional Minister and the Yagbonwura at his residence. She later toured the Cathedral JSH, St. Anne’s JSH ‘A’, Almanara E/A Primary, and Busunu Centre where she had brief interactions with the girls on the need to take ICT training seriously. The girls were elated with the minister’s visit. They expressed gratitude to her for providing the opportunity for them to learn ICT.
Speaking to journalists at the end of her visit to the various schools, Mrs. Ekuful expressed satisfaction with the quality of training being given to the girls.
Interestingly, over 80 percent of the girls trained had no prior knowledge or experience in the use of computers. This, the Minister noted, is an indication that no matter their small beginnings, the girls can still make it with the right support.
The programme is expected to award all 1,000 girls with certificates of participation. However, the best girls in each district get an ICT lab set up in the schools they attend. The best 100 girls will be given laptops, while the best three girls will be awarded cash prizes and plaques.