Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang calls for jobs from One Million Coders programme

Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has stated that the success of the One Million Coders programme depends on its ability to generate tangible employment and business opportunities for its participants. Speaking at the 15th Africa Internet Governance Forum on November 3, 2026, she emphasized that digital skills training must result in practical applications that benefit the national economy and improve individual livelihoods. She noted that while education is a critical foundation, the ultimate metric of success for technology initiatives is their impact on the job market.

While thousands of young Ghanaians have already completed training through the government’s flagship digital initiative, the Vice President noted that the ultimate value of the programme lies in the post-training environment. She highlighted the importance of university partnerships in extending the reach of the training across the country. However, she stressed that these efforts would only be meaningful if the economic landscape is prepared to absorb the new talent, bridging the gap between technical certification and sustainable economic productivity.

Beyond high-tech sectors, Professor Opoku-Agyemang advocated for the strategic integration of small-scale enterprises and informal sector workers into the digital landscape. She urged that technology initiatives should be designed to align with the real-world operational challenges of these groups. By ensuring that digital tools facilitate meaningful participation rather than creating barriers, she argued that the digital economy could become a truly inclusive space for all Ghanaian workers.

The Vice President’s remarks underscore the government's focus on ensuring that digital literacy drives inclusive growth across various sectors. As the One Million Coders programme continues to expand its reach, the focus is expected to remain on creating a supportive ecosystem where small businesses can leverage technology to scale and where trained coders can find the necessary resources to launch or sustain their own ventures.