How far with the NDC’s 1 million coders programme? – Kwasi Mensah asks
Civil society voices are intensifying calls for clarity on the progress of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government’s 1 Million Coders Programme as questions mount over implementation speed and measurable impact. The programme, a flagship commitment under the NDC’s Reset Ghana agenda — promised to equip one million Ghanaians with digital and coding skills over four years.
Launched in April 2025 with high expectations after attracting more than 90,000 applications within 48 hours, the initiative aims to train participants in fields such as coding, data analytics, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
However, nearly a year on, progress reports have been mixed. Government officials recently projected that at least 400,000 trainees will be enrolled nationwide in 2026 under Phase Two of the rollout, which includes expanded in-person and virtual training across 100 constituencies and partnerships with global tech firms to offer internationally recognised certifications.
During the State of the Nation Address in late February, President John Dramani Mahama reaffirmed the programme’s central role in national development, noting that hundreds of early participants have completed training at centres in Accra, Kumasi, Sunyani and Bolgatanga and that future phases will broaden reach and digital access.
Kwasi Mensah argues that clearer data is needed on actual enrolment numbers, completion rates, post-training employment and the programme’s real contribution to job creation. Media reports describe lingering frustration among some Ghanaians who feel updates on outcomes remain limited, with momentum from the initial launch yet to fully translate into visible impact across communities.
As the government scales implementation and strengthens collaborations with tech partners, stakeholders say thorough progress reporting and transparent benchmarks will be essential to sustaining public confidence in one of the administration’s most ambitious skill-building initiatives.
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