HON. MINISTER'S REMARKS AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE EXPANDED PAIX DATA CENTRE
Source: ministry_of_communications_ghana

Page 1 of 6 DRAFT SPEECH DELIVERED BY MRS. URSULA OWUSU-EKUFUL – HONOURABLE MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITALISATION AT THE CLOSE OUT EVENT OF THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION PROJECT ON 27TH JUNE, 2024 MIKLIN HOTEL – KUMASI Hon. Simon Osei-Mensah – Ashanti Regional Minister Hon. Sam Pyn – Metropolitan Chief Executive Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Communications & Digitalisation Members of the Board of Trustees of GIFEC Mrs. Eva Andoh-Poku – Administrator of GIFEC Ms. Susan Teltscher – Head, Capacity and Skills Development, BDT – ITU Robyn Fysh – Senior Project Manager – ITU Nananom Distinguished invited guests Our friends from the media Ladies and gentlemen Page 2 of 6 Good morning, I am elated to be here this morning for the closeout event of the “Boosting Digital Skills through Digital Transformation Centres Project ” (DTC) in Ghana. This initiative stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to ensuring every Ghanaian embraces the digital age, leaving no one behind in our journey towards socio-economic advancement. Introduction As the Ministry responsible for championing government’s digitalisation agenda, this initiative is in line with our objective of ensuring that no Ghanaian is left out in the digitalisation process . We are driving socio-economic transformation through investments and provision of appropriate legal and institutional framework for access, usage, affordability and participation. We are determined to provide the necessary digital infrastructure, a conducive legal and regulatory environment, building digital capabilities to enhance the adoption and use of ICT and digital innovation, and closing all digital gaps to propel our digital transformation. The Ministry’s Interventions in Capacity Building The Ministry is aware of the need to build an inclusive society by addressing gaps in the digital ecosystem, particularly in the areas of gender and marginalized communities. We are therefore keenly interested in developing the capacity of females to bridge this gap. In 2017, we enhanced the ITU’s Girls in ICT Day Celebration from a day’s event to a week’s residential training for girls between the ages of 9 to 15, in basic ICT and Coding. The objective is to introduce girls to ICT and arouse their interest in Science Page 3 of 6 Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers. Since the beginning of this initiative, 1,100 teachers and 12,981 girls have been trained. 1,776 laptops have been given out, with 97 ICT labs equipped in basic schools of winners as part of the project. We cannot talk about the Girls in ICT without mentioning these significant impacts: beneficiaries have acquired new ICT skills, increased interest of girls pursuing STEM programmes, ICT teachers have also been equipped with new skills. Finally, the project has increased employable skills of beneficiaries at the tertiary level. We have recently concluded the training of 100 teachers in the Greater Accra Region, who are currently training 1,000 girls. We will be replicating this effort in the Ashanti and V olta Regions in the next few months. I am pleased to inform you that for the sustainability of the Initiative, we are in the process of restructuring the Girls in ICT Initiative into a Trust, to ensure the project transcends beyond Governments. The Boosting Digital Skills Through Digital Transformation Centres Project The DTC Initiative could not have come at a better time – during the outbreak and height of the COVID -19 pandemic when schools had closed down and countries were on lockdown. Technology's significance was amplified as most activities, events, commerce, meetings, and even church services required the use of the internet and Information and Communication s Technology (ICT) applications and services. I am glad to have been part of this initiative, right from inception, through to closure; an initiative that aligns with our goal of ensuring digital inclusion in every part of the country. In January 2020, the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, Page 4 of 6 together with our partners: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) , Cisco and with the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) as the implementing Agency, introduced the DTC to train at least 17,200 Ghanaians in basic and intermediate digital skills within three years. Target beneficiaries include women entrepreneurs, out -of-school youth, students, school teachers, and people with disabilities, all of whom have gained essential digital skills required for success in today's market. I am elated to announce that we have exceeded this target by training 22,263 citizens in basic ICT and entrepreneurial skills, 68% of them being female. Last year, the project partners collaborated with the ST Microelectronics Foundation to offer specialized training for people with visual impairments. This innovative initiative has already empowered 470 individuals by equipping them with the skills needed through the "Introduction to Computer Basics for the Visually Impaired (ICBVI)" training course. The goal is to enhance their independence, employability, and social inclusion Key Achievements I am proud to announce the following additional key achievements chalked since the inception of the project: • We have established 30 active coding clubs in schools, and trained 1,500 school children, mostly girls, in Scratch and Python computer programming, and robotics. • 1,271 kids have graduated from the coding clubs, with 300 more in training. Page 5 of 6 • Training of 220 certified trainers stationed at GIFEC Community ICT Centers (CICs) and Cyberlabs. • Additionally, we have renovated five (5) Community ICT Centers (CICs) in Karaga, Bonwire, Bawku, Zebilla and Obomeng. • 11 CICs have been equipped with 88 computers and accessories. Through these outcomes, we are confident that the project has significantly enhanced digital inclusion by broadening access to digital skills and technologies, which is crucial for participating in the digital society. We have narrowed the gender gap by empowering women and enhancing their economic wellbeing through the provision of digital skills. As we reflect on the profound impact of our collective efforts, we remain steadfast in our commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 , particularly in advancing gender equality through digital inclusion. The successes we celebrate today are but stepping stones towards a future where every Ghanaian can harness the full potential of digital technology. I urge all stakeholders, from policymakers to educators, entrepreneurs to innovators, and citizens alike, to join hands in advancing our digital agenda. Together, let us continue to innovate, empower, and transform, ensuring that our nation emerges as a leader in the global digital landscape. Conclusion In conclusion, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the ITU, NORAD Cisco and GIFEC, as well as Centre Managers, Regional Managers and the beneficiaries whose unwavering dedication has made today's achievements possible. Let us carry forward the spirit of innovation and inclusivity as we look forward to embarking on the next phase of our digital journey. Page 6 of 6 Thank you all for your attention.