About 60 girls from selected basic schools in the Western Region are in Accra to participate in the Girls-in-ICT initiative mentorship week aimed at encouraging them to opt for careers within the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.
The girls were adjudged the best out of 548 others who were involved in ICT training and education in the region.
Organised by the Ministry of Communication in partnership with its agencies, the seven-day mentorship programme seeks to sustain the enthusiasm of the 60 girls and build their interests in ICT.
The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), Effia-Kwesimintsim Metropolitan Assembly (EKMA), Daboase, Shama, Ellembelle, Nzema East, Mpohor, Ahanta West and Amenfi West Districts, all in the Western Region, have representatives in the final 60.
Opening the event yesterday, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister of Communication, stated that Ghana joined the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Girls-In-ICT initiative to implement activities to bridge the digital gender divide and encourage the training and education of girls to expand the opportunities available to the girl-child and women in the sector.
Cumulatively, she said that more than 4,000 girls from selected basic schools have participated in the initiative across the country.
Reiterating the importance of the programme, the minister stated that, the country cannot achieve Sustainable Development Goals (1, 5 and 10) aimed at reducing poverty, achieving gender equality and reducing inequalities if there was no conscious and deliberate approach to encourage more girls and women to take up leadership roles in the ICT industry.
The mentorship programme, she said, was an opportunity for the girls to learn from female professionals within the ICT sector, and interact with them on building a career in ICT.
Magdalene Apenteng, Chief Director of the Ministry of Communication, stated that the concept was a follow up to provide hands-on experience and expose the girls to practical training.
“This opportunity is to help you experience what happens at an ICT working environment, as well as interact with females who have excelled in the industry,” she said.