Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations Minister Sam Nartey George urged Ghanaians to enrol in the One Million Coders programme during Joy News’ Digital Economy Forum on AI and the Ghana Economy on Wednesday. The programme runs about 37 courses aimed at equipping participants with practical skills they can apply in everyday life and business.
George described the initiative as focused on real-world skill sets, saying it aims to make people more productive in daily activities and commercial ventures. “It’s extremely important,” he said, stressing that the value of training lies in how people use it in their actual environments.
The minister’s call came in response to questions about expanding training opportunities that help ordinary citizens improve productivity. He said the programme is designed around practical application, not just theory or abstract knowledge.
Alongside the skills discussion, George raised concerns about data sovereignty when local businesses rely on foreign technology platforms. He challenged the effectiveness of contractual assurances that claim to protect user data held by these providers.
“That is a mirage that is sold to many African companies, not just Ghanaian companies,” he said, referring to promises of data protection from foreign firms.
George pointed to the U.S. Cloud Act as an example of why those agreements can fall short. The legislation allows U.S. authorities access to data stored by American companies overseas, potentially overriding local privacy guarantees.
He said he had raised these issues in talks with Google and Amazon Web Services, two major cloud service providers widely used in Ghana and across Africa.
The minister warned that contracts with foreign providers require close scrutiny, especially when they involve sensitive information such as health records. He implied that current arrangements might not sufficiently safeguard Ghanaian data from external access.
The One Million Coders programme is part of a broader Ghanaian government effort to boost digital skills and economic productivity. It aims to train a significant portion of the population in coding and related digital competencies, preparing them for a technology-driven economy.
By focusing on practical skills, the initiative seeks to address everyday challenges and improve business operations rather than just producing tech specialists. This approach reflects a push to integrate digital literacy across sectors and communities.
Meanwhile, concerns about data sovereignty echo ongoing debates across Africa about control over personal and corporate data in an age dominated by large multinational tech companies. George’s comments highlight tensions between local data protection ambitions and international technology laws.
The minister’s remarks at the forum pinpointed the gap between contractual promises and legal realities affecting Ghanaian businesses in the digital space.
According to Joy Online.
