Girls-in-ICT Project Awards: A Step Forward in Bridging the Gender Digital Divide in Ghana
The Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation in Ghana has just concluded its National Girls-In-ICT Day celebration with an awards ceremony held in Damongo, the Savannah Region. The event recognized the achievements of young female students who excelled in the Girls-in-ICT project in the region.
Eleven-year-old Mohammed Rahimmah from T.I. Ahmadiya Islamic School emerged as the overall winner and received a laptop, certificate, plaque, GHS 3,000 cash prize, and an ICT lab to be established in her district. Second and third place were awarded to Alfreda Frimpong and Salu Saratu Alele, respectively. They both received laptops, certificates, plaques, GHS 2,500 cash prizes, and ICT labs to be established in their districts. Additionally, 97 other girls were awarded laptops and certificates for their outstanding performance in the program.
The Girls-in-ICT project is being implemented by the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC) to encourage young girls to take an interest in ICT and bridge the gender digital divide. The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, emphasized the need for the country to take ICT education seriously and promote the participation of girls in the field to ensure full benefits from the digital transformation agenda.
For the most part, the program aims to demystify ICT for all and encourage girls to develop an interest in the field. The Minister urged the girls who benefited from the program to continue practicing the skills they have learned and asked stakeholders to institutionalize ICT and digital skills in various schools in the region to build the girls’ capacity in ICT.
The awards ceremony also recognized the efforts of 40 best teachers from seven districts in the Savannah region, who were awarded laptops and certificates. The Deputy Minister for Education, Gifty Twum Ampofo, appealed to parents to support their children by providing them with mobile phones to learn ICT. She emphasized the importance of responsible use of the technology.
In a nutshell, the Girls-in-ICT project awards are a step forward in bridging the gender digital divide in Ghana. The initiative not only recognizes the achievements of young girls in ICT but also encourages them to continue developing their skills. As the country moves towards a digital transformation, it is crucial to promote ICT education and participation among all, including girls, to ensure a more inclusive and prosperous future.