Fred Yeboah, Director of Research and Innovation at GI-KACE and a member of the One Million Coders Programme (OMCP) Implementation Committee, says the government is targeting the training of 300,000 people in 2026 as part of efforts to expand digital skills opportunities across the country.
Speaking on the Joy Super Morning Show, Mr Yeboah said the programme is gradually scaling up through partnerships with universities, district-level centres, and community-based institutions.
“For this year, our target is 300,000. We have started the process of training 300,000 for 2026,” he stated.
The One Million Coders Programme forms part of the government’s broader digital transformation agenda aimed at equipping young people with practical technology skills for employment and entrepreneurship.
Mr Yeboah explained that the programme is completely free and open to all Ghanaians with a valid Ghana Card.
“From a charcoal seller to a professor, everybody has an opportunity,” he said, noting that although the initiative primarily targets young people, anyone interested in acquiring digital skills can participate.
He added that participants are encouraged to pursue structured career pathways in information technology rather than treating the training as isolated short courses.
“We are not limiting anybody. You have to choose the kind of IT career you want and then you can start from beginner level, go to intermediate level, and do advanced courses to become an expert in the field,” he explained.
Addressing concerns about registration difficulties, particularly challenges linked to facial recognition verification using the Ghana Card system, Mr Yeboah said many of the problems were caused by poor lighting conditions during verification.
He noted that instructional materials have since been shared on social media to guide applicants through the process.
Mr Yeboah further disclosed that the programme is working closely with industry partners to support trainees beyond classroom instruction through mentorship, innovation support, and access to remote employment opportunities.
One of the programme’s partners, Industry Emerging Africa, he said, specialises in preparing young people for careers within the global technology industry.
“Our focus is not only in Ghana. We are also looking at remote job opportunities,” he added.