The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful (MP), has officially closed the three-year “Boosting Digital Skills through Digital Transformation Centres” initiative

Implemented by the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and Cisco, and funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), the project has made a significant impact.

Speaking at the closing ceremony held in Kumasi on Thursday (27 June), Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful emphasized the project’s success in bridging the digital divide and fostering inclusive growth.

“This initiative has not only met but surpassed its targets, providing thousands of Ghanaians with the skills they need to thrive in a digital world. Our collaboration with ITU, Cisco, and NORAD has proven to be a successful model for digital empowerment,” she said.

“Usually when donor-funded projects end, that is the end of the project because there is no more money to run the project. But this digital transformation center project is something that we are very keen to see institutionalised.”

“And so as part of the design of the project we utilized GIFEC’s Community ICT Centers (CICs) which are spread throughout the country some were reequipped with new equipment, and some were renovated. But those were where the training took place”, the minister noted as she highlighted the sustainability of the project.

She also commended GIFEC for its dedication and efficient execution of the project, noting that the enhanced digital skills among citizens would significantly contribute to the nation’s socio-economic development.

“The success of this initiative underscores our commitment to ensuring that every Ghanaian, regardless of their location, has access to the tools and knowledge necessary to participate fully in the digital economy. After the training ends, these centers are still there. And even before this training ends within their catchment area some have gone beyond what was expected of them, have set up more coding clubs, have trained more people to benefit from the programme’, the minister further indicated.

Representatives from ITU, Cisco, and NORAD praised the collaboration and expressed their commitment to supporting digital literacy programs in Ghana.

For some beneficiaries it is a game-changer.

“I want to appreciate the team that initiated this IT project”, one of them told the media. And I want to plead with them to humbly introduce this into the basic school curriculum. I shouldn’t be 40 before I can communicate via email, and it has broadened my knowledge.”

Reporting By Jonathan Ofori, Asaase Newsroom, Kumasi