The government is sharpening its focus on employability by shifting the One Million Coders Programme (OMCP) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) from first-year students to third- and final-year students. The goal is simple: equip graduates with digital and artificial intelligence skills they can actually use the moment they step into the job market.
Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam George, announced the strategic adjustment during a working visit to the programme's training centres at KNUST. He also revealed plans to supply the university with an additional 2,000 laptops, a major boost that will expand access and strengthen the programme's reach across campus.
This new batch of laptops comes on top of the 500 already provided by the government, bringing the total to 2,500 devices dedicated to training the next generation of Ghanaian tech talent.
Why shift the programme to final-year students?
Mr George explained that training students in their first year often creates a gap between learning and application. If a student completes the programme at Level 100 but doesn't actively practice those skills until graduation, the knowledge can go stale.
“If a Level 100 completes the programme today and decides not to do anything between Level 300 and 400, by the time they are leaving the university, there is a lag between the training and the implementation,” he said.
By targeting third- and final-year students, the programme ensures that digital skills are fresh, relevant, and immediately applicable as graduates enter the workforce or launch their own ventures.
Harvard partnership to align training with industry needs
The Minister also revealed that the government is collaborating with a team from Harvard University to conduct a comprehensive skills gap analysis. This partnership aims to ensure the programme reflects what employers actually need and keeps pace with the rapidly evolving demands of the artificial intelligence industry.
This international collaboration signals Ghana's commitment to building a tech ecosystem that is not just locally relevant but globally competitive.
Ghana must build its own AI language models
In a bold call to action, Mr George urged universities and traditional authorities to take the lead in developing Ghanaian AI language models. He warned that indigenous African languages could be sidelined if AI systems are developed without sufficient local knowledge and input.
KNUST, he noted, is ideally positioned to spearhead the development of AI language models for Twi, given its location in the Ashanti Region and the strong role of traditional authorities in preserving local languages and cultural knowledge.
“Ghana must build the capacity to develop its own language models rather than depend entirely on foreign institutions that may not fully understand the country's linguistic nuances,” Mr George said.
This is a forward-thinking move that positions Ghana not just as a consumer of AI technology, but as a creator and custodian of its own digital future.
KNUST ready to deliver
The Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor Christian Agyare, welcomed the government's shift from policy formulation to tangible implementation. He assured the Minister that the university has the expertise and infrastructure to deliver on the programme's promise.
Professor Agyare disclosed that KNUST has already enrolled about 1,444 participants in the training. He described the proposed shift towards third- and final-year students as a practical, results-driven approach to preparing graduates for the job market.
The university is also taking steps to ensure the new laptops are properly managed, with plans to distribute them across various centres so that students without personal devices can still access the programme.
A boost for Ghana's digital economy and youth employment
The One Million Coders Programme is a cornerstone of the government's broader strategy to expand digital skills training and prepare young people for opportunities in Ghana's growing digital economy.
By equipping graduates with job-ready skills, the programme directly tackles unemployment while fostering a culture of innovation and self-reliance. Students who complete the training will be empowered to secure jobs or create their own opportunities, contributing to a vibrant and self-sustaining tech ecosystem.
With the added laptops and a sharper focus on employability, the future looks bright for Ghana's young coders and the nation's digital transformation journey.