1 Million Coders Programme records nearly 6,000 course completions-Sam George
Ghana’s 1 Million Coders Programme has recorded nearly 6,000 course completions as government intensifies efforts to equip young people with digital skills for employment and participation in the digital economy.
Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, disclosed this during the Government Accountability Series, where he presented an update on the ministry’s achievements between January and August 2026.
According to him, as of August 2, 2026, the programme’s database had recorded 141,959 registered accounts, with nearly 30,000 admitted learners actively engaged in studies.
He said the programme had already recorded almost 6,000 course completions, with participants accessing training through several learning pathways.
“Our 1 million coders programme has become a genuine national movement,” Mr George said.
He explained that more than 30,000 learners had been reached through Coursera, while over 10,000 were participating through the Start to Code Alliance and nearly 2,000 through the NetAcad partnership.
Additional learners, he said, were undertaking courses through digital literacy, cybersecurity, data analytics and other specialised tracks.
The Minister further disclosed that more than 25,000 participants were pursuing self-paced studies, while another 7,000 required centre-based support.
Cybersecurity leads enrolment
Mr George said cybersecurity was currently the most popular skills area among participants, with 8,570 learners, followed by data analytics, artificial intelligence essentials, AI professional courses and project management.
He said government had also signed memoranda of understanding with 11 leading Ghanaian universities, including the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Ghana Communication Technology University and the University of Cape Coast.
The agreements are intended to facilitate the integration of 1 Million Coders certifications into degree and diploma programmes at participating institutions.
The ministry is also working with the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service to expand access to foundational digital skills for students in senior high schools, particularly young people between the ages of 13 and 19.
118 centres recording participation
The Minister said participation was also growing through physical training centres across the country.
Monitoring data collected between June 1 and August 15, 2026, recorded 11,683 cumulative attendances across 118 reporting centres.
He identified centres in areas including Trifoso, Dapema, Sanyrigo, Yendi and Wamanafo among the highest-performing centres.
The Northern, Greater Accra and Upper West Regions, he said, were currently recording the highest participation levels nationwide.
Mr George said the government was also working to make the programme more inclusive.
He disclosed that the ministry had partnered with the National Council on Persons with Disability to identify centres that would be prioritised for accessibility improvements.
Government targets higher completion rate
Despite the progress, the Minister said the focus for the remainder of the year would be on converting registrations into actual course completions.
He also identified the need to close the gender participation gap, noting that male participants still significantly outnumber females in the programme.
Mr George said the government’s broader objective was to ensure that the digital skills acquired through the initiative translate into meaningful employment and economic opportunities for young Ghanaians.
He said the programme forms part of government’s wider digital transformation agenda, which seeks to prepare the country’s workforce for emerging areas such as coding, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics and other technology-related fields.
The Minister said government would continue strengthening partnerships with educational institutions, technology platforms and training centres to expand access and improve completion rates.
He expressed confidence that the programme would continue to grow and contribute to building a digitally skilled workforce capable of competing in Ghana and the global digital economy.
