The Upper East Region has received 550 laptops under the government’s One Million Coders Programme (OMCP), a flagship initiative aimed at equipping young people with digital and coding skills for the modern economy. The devices were presented on Tuesday, May 5, at the forecourt of the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council.
Receiving the consignment on behalf of the region, Upper East Regional Minister Akamugri Donatus Atanga expressed gratitude to the government for delivering on its pledge to expand digital training opportunities for the youth.
“And today we have been given a large quantity of laptops to train our youths in the digital world.
“And so this is a man (President Mahama) of his words, he lives after what he says,” the minister said.
He also thanked the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam George, for translating policy into action.
The laptops are earmarked for distribution to 11 training centres across the region. However, Mr. Atanga noted that the Upper East Region has 15 districts and appealed to the Communications Minister to consider establishing additional centres so every district can benefit.
He urged beneficiaries to use the devices responsibly and avoid restricting access.
“The devices are meant to provide opportunities for everyone interested in building digital skills,” he stressed, charging Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) coordinators to ensure open access for all aspiring learners.
The Upper East Regional Manager of GIFEC, Martin Aberba, said the intervention forms part of efforts to bridge the digital divide by extending ICT infrastructure and services to underserved communities.
He explained that the OMCP, implemented under the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, seeks to train one million young Ghanaians in coding, software development, and other digital skills within two years.
“This presentation marks the first physical deployment of devices for the programme in the Upper East Region,” Mr. Aberba said. “The laptops will be sent to selected training centres, including senior high schools, community ICT centres, and youth skills centres across the region.”
He added that the programme is expected to create new opportunities for youth to work as freelance web developers, mobile app testers, software support assistants, and other remote digital roles without migrating to urban areas. It will also support local businesses and institutions with digital solutions developed by trained youth.
Speaking on behalf of Municipal and District Chief Executives, Nabdam District Chief Executive Francis Yenwona Tobig welcomed the intervention and pledged that the laptops would be used for their intended purpose to benefit the youth.
The One Million Coders Programme is designed to provide a structured pathway into the digital economy for unemployed youth, while opening doors to further training, internships, and job placements with partner technology firms.
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