News
100 Teachers Undergo Digital Training in Ho
The Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations (MoCDTI), in collaboration with the Volta Regional Coordinating Council, has commenced a week-long Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop under the National Girls-in-ICT initiative.
The training aims to equip 100 selected teachers with essential Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills to mentor 1,000 girls across 18 districts in the Volta Region.
The workshop is designed to build the teachers’ capacity in areas such as Web Development, Cybersecurity, Coding, Game and Animation Development, and general ICT literacy.
This initiative forms part of the Ministry’s broader effort to close the gender digital divide by empowering girls with the skills and confidence to thrive in a digital world.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, the Director of Policy, Planning, Budget, Monitoring and Evaluation (PPBME), Mr. Austin Hessin, underscored the importance of the initiative in addressing gender disparities in digital access and education.
Citing the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) 2023 Strategic Report, Mr. Hessin revealed that nearly 250 million more men than women are online globally, with Ghanaian girls particularly affected in accessing mobile internet and digital tools.
“Despite improvements in access and affordability, a significant digital gender gap persists. This programme is more than a training exercise—it is a transformational agenda that shapes futures,” he said.
He highlighted that the Girls-in-ICT programme, spearheaded by the Ministry in partnership with the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (KACE), and other stakeholders, has so far trained 14,981 girls and 1,192 teachers nationwide.
Mr. Hessin added that the current training is being facilitated by experts from KACE and focuses on both technical skills and pedagogical approaches to enable the teachers to become effective mentors in their communities.
He acknowledged the financial support of MTN Ghana and American Tower Corporation, as well as the logistical backing provided by local government agencies.
“Our goal is to build a generation that leads in innovation—not one left behind by it,” he noted, urging participants to approach their roles as digital mentors with purpose and commitment.
The Chief Director of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council, Mr. Augustus Awity, also addressed the gathering. He linked the Girls-in-ICT initiative to broader national education priorities, highlighting that over GH¢1.2 billion has been allocated for teacher training in the 2025 National Budget.
“This training marks the beginning of a transformative journey for thousands of girls. You are the vanguards of this educational revolution,” Mr. Awity remarked.
Mr. Francis Yao Agbemadi, Volta Regional Director of Education, stressed the importance of fostering supportive learning environments that build confidence and inspire girls to pursue careers in technology.
The Vice Chancellor of the Pentecost University, Apostle Professor Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua, is advocating an intentional conversation about the development and education of the boy child in creating stronger families and societies.
According to him, the boy child must not be ignored in conversations on leadership, education, family stability and national transformation because they are key to national development.
“There is a reason why a boy child must not be denied opportunities like education; he is a future leader. When boys are trained well, society becomes safer and stronger,” he stated.
Apostle Prof. Agyapong-Kodua made the remark at a forum organised by the Church of Pentecost Schools Outreach Ministry in Accra to observe the International Day of the Boy Child observed on May 16.
It was held in collaboration with the Pentecost Men’s Ministry and the Ghana Education Service (GES), and under the theme: ‘Flourish and Thrive: Investing and Unleashing Boys for Strong Families and Communities.’
Leading the discussion, the Pentecost University Vice Chancellor warned that poor mentorship, declining in education, harmful social media influences and emotional neglect have made a lot of young boys vulnerable.
With a lot of the attention switching to the girl child, the boy child, he said was confronted with many challenges including violence, substance abuse, educational decline, emotional neglect and the absence of positive role models.
According to Apostle Prof. Agyapong-Kodua, he noted that boys were turning to social media for direction due to the absence of fathers and mentors to help shape their lives.
“If we are not intentional, social media will mentor our children for us. We are not saying they should not use social media, but they should be guided to access the right information to excel in life,” he stated.
Prof. Agyapong-Kodua urged society to encourage boys to become creators of technology rather than mere consumers.
Contributing, Madam Gifty Asiedu, Director of the Girls’ Education Unit at the GES Headquarters, said the service remained committed to ensuring that no child was left behind, adding that, “supporting the boy child should not come at the expense of progress made in girl-child education.”
“If you focus intentionally on one gender and neglect the other, you create a societal problem,” she underlined.
She said the GES had observed some decline in boys’ retention in school, although the gap between boys and girls was not yet too wide.
“Over the years, attention has been focused on the girl child and we have seen the benefits. However, data now show that the statistics concerning the boy child continue to decline,” she indicated.
She explained that the service was implementing gender-responsive education to ensure that classroom teaching addressed the needs of both boys and girls equally.
Elder Barima Acheampong Sarpong II, Deputy Director of the Pentecost Men’s Ministry and Chief of Asante Asaman in the Ashanti Region, said society needed to critically examine the plight of boys.
“As we celebrate the International Day for the Boy Child, I urge every man to identify one boy child, find out how he is doing and dedicate some time to mentoring him,” he explained.
The programme, attended by educators, church leaders and policymakers, was the second edition following a partnership initiated last year between the Schools Outreach Ministry, the Pentecost Men’s Ministry and the GES.
It sought to improve school enrolment, completion rates and learning outcomes among boys so they could grow into responsible men who would build strong families and communities.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
Candidates that wrote the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in Ho Municipality are hopeful of obtaining good grades to make everyone especially their parents and the Regional Minister proud.
The candidates said they had so far sat the examination with focus and integrity after a call from Mr James Gunu, Regional Minister to avoid examination malpractice saying, they expected great performance upon release of results.
Mr Gunu, at the start of this year’s BECE delivered the message during a monitoring visit to some centres in the municipality including Ho Kpodzi EP Basic A School, Mawuli School, Mawuko Girls Senior High School (SHS), and Kabore School.
He urged the candidates to rely on hard work and discipline, warning that shortcuts could jeopardise their future.
“Stay focused and give your best in this year’s BECE – your determination and hard work will pay off. Avoid shortcuts and examination malpractice; integrity matters just as much as success,” he said.
The Minister, accompanied by the Ho Municipal Chief Executive, the acting Volta Regional Director of Education, and the Ho Municipal Director of Education, encouraged candidates to view the exam as a foundation for their academic journey and to celebrate responsibly after the final paper, commending parents, guardians, teachers, and officials of the Ghana Education Service for their support in preparing the candidates.
Candidates at some of the centres Ghana News Agency visited, echoed the call for honesty and high standards.
At Kabore School, Ms Francisca Atsu of Sokode Lokoe MA Basic School said, “The Regional Minister was here earlier to speak to us and also to encourage us. We’ve done our best. I assure him that we will make him and our parents proud.”
At Taviefe SHS Centre, Ms Valentina Sakpla of Taviefe R.C Basic School added, “We are expecting good results to make everyone proud and for our own good.”
Mr David Dotse, Supervisor at Kabore School, hosting 11 schools, with a standby ambulance on site to cater for any health emergency, reported smooth proceedings. –GNA
