Ghana Investment Fund trains teachers to promote ICT for 1,000 girls

By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi

The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC)has launched a transformative initiative to promote digital literacy among young girls, beginning with a five-day intensive training programme for 100 teachers selected from districts across the country.

The teachers, who began training on 8 September 2025, will later pass on their knowledge to 1,000 girls, broadening access to digital skills and enhancing ICT education at the grassroots level.

According to Bawah Shaibu, Deputy Head of Training at GIFEC, the programme is designed not only to build teacher capacity but also to provide essential digital tools and infrastructure.

“Beyond the training, GIFEC is providing computers and setting up training centres to ensure continuity and impact,” he explained.

Incentives for Excellence

To encourage commitment and reward excellence, GIFEC has announced an attractive incentive package. The best 100 students emerging from the training will receive brand-new laptops, while the top three girls will be awarded cash prizes of GHS3,500, GHS3,000 and GHS2,500respectively.

In addition, the schools of the top-performing girls will benefit from upgraded ICT laboratories or receive new ones where none currently exist. Ten teachers will also be recognised and rewarded for their outstanding performance and dedication.

Mr Shaibu urged the teachers to act as custodians of the programme by safeguarding the laptops and ensuring its success in empowering students, particularly girls, to pursue careers in digital technology.

Local Leaders Applaud the Programme

Abdul Razak Korah, Upper West Regional Director of Education, described the initiative as ambitious but vital in addressing gender disparities in ICT.

He highlighted the importance of punctuality, teamwork and dedication, and challenged teachers to outperform their colleagues in the Volta and Savannah regions, where similar programmes are underway.

Mr Korah also stressed the need to extend ICT access to deprived schools, where many pupils have never seen a computer.

“Teachers must simplify ICT concepts for beginners and serve as role models in their classrooms after this training,” he said, noting that the programme’s impact should be felt across all districts.

Upper West Regional Minister, Charles Lwanga Puozuing, also underscored the importance of equipping girls with ICT skills to enable their active participation in a rapidly digitising global economy.

“When girls gain digital skills, they uplift their families and communities. No nation can thrive if women are excluded from digital transformation,” he remarked.

The Minister pledged the full support of the Regional Coordinating Council, assuring that all districts would benefit from ICT opportunities aimed at preparing girls for leadership in the digital age.

Closing the Digital Gender Gap

The GIFEC initiative is part of the nation’s broader effort to close the digital gender divide, promote inclusive education, and ensure that no child is left behind in the country’s digital transformation agenda.