ONE THOUSAND GIRLS TRAINED IN ICT AND CODING IN THE BONO EAST REGION

With the frequent under representation of girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education in Ghana, Communication and Digitalisation Minister Mrs Ursula Owusu Ekuful said basic digital skills in internet access must be improved to help female to secure a job in the digital growing divide. The Minister was speaking to participants at the National Girls in ICT Day which is a flagship program to help bring up the number of women and girls with careers in the digital space.

The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu Ekuful hinted that the country is moving towards a direction where digital skills will be required in all forms of entrepreneurship and vocational fields. According to her, the use of ICT tools will be made available to students at all levels in order to prepare them for the anticipated future.

She therefore assured participants that government will ensure that more rural areas are connected to any form of ICT through the support of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication, GIFEC.

There were also mentors from various disciplines at the mentorship Day events which featured women in the ICT industry. They are Dr Mercy Badu senior lecturer Department of Chemistry, KNUST, Madam Juanita Ahia lecturer Department of Computer Science Sunyani Technical University, Madam Faiza Uma Bawah lecturer Department of Computer Science and Informatics University of Energy and Natural Resources among others.

The Bono East Minister, Mr Kwasi Adu-Gyan was happy at the initiative since many young women are faced with challenges in the digital space.

The Deputy Minister for Education in charge of TVET Madam Gifty Twum Ampofo noted that it is unfortunate that some regards STEM related courses as a preserve for boys. She said the Ministry of Education is pursuing policies to ensure that more girls study STEM subject.

By Nana Debrah