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MTN Group and the Government of Ghana have signed a partnership agreement to jointly implement the ‘One Million Coders Programme’, an ambitious initiative aimed at equipping one million young Ghanaians with artificial intelligence (AI), coding, and digital skills to accelerate the country’s digital transformation agenda.
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The strategic partnership was formalised on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona, where Ghana’s Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Honourable Samuel Nartey George, and MTN Group President and CEO, Ralph Mupita, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore areas of collaboration to deliver the flagship initiative of the new administration of President John Mahama.
Building Ghana’s Digital Future
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Honourable Samuel George described the One Million Coders Program as the cornerstone of the Mahama administration’s digital inclusion and youth empowerment agenda, aimed at building the capacity of Ghana’s youthful population to thrive in the global digital economy.
“We engaged with the MTN Group and expressed our desire for a partnership that will help fuel the capacity of young Ghanaians in the areas of artificial intelligence, digital technology, data governance, and cybersecurity. MTN did not hesitate to offer its support for this transformational initiative,” the Minister said.
The minister highlighted that the programme will serve as a catalyst to position Ghana as a digital innovation hub in West Africa by empowering young people with the skills required to drive digital entrepreneurship, innovation, and job creation.
As part of the partnership, the Ghanaian government will designate the MTN Ghana Head Office building — donated to the government to mark MTN’s 25th anniversary in Ghana — as one of the Centres of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence and Software Development under the One Million Coders initiative.
“This Centre will become a hub for nurturing local tech talent, fostering innovation, and developing cutting-edge digital solutions to tackle Ghana’s socio-economic challenges,” the Minister added.
MTN Pledges Support for Ghana’s Digital Vision
In his remarks, MTN Group President and CEO, Ralph Mupita, expressed the company’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s digital transformation agenda through strategic investments in digital skills development, infrastructure, and innovation ecosystems.
“We are very focused on understanding the strategy Ghana has and how we, as MTN Group and MTN Ghana, can support it. This partnership is about co-creating Ghana’s digital future by developing local talent, building digital platforms, and enabling innovation ecosystems that will unlock new socio-economic opportunities for the country,” Mupita stated.
Mupita emphasised the importance of developing Africa’s own tech talent and AI solutions to meet the continent’s unique digital transformation needs, particularly in light of the growing influence of Generative AI and emerging technologies.
“With around 3,000 languages spoken across Africa, it is incumbent on Africans to work on our own Large Language Models (LLMs) and digital solutions that are built by Africans, for Africans. That is why we must invest in developing African software engineers, coders, and innovators to make our continent future-fit,” he said.
MTN Skills Academy to Power the One Million Coders Initiative
The partnership will leverage the MTN Skills Academy, MTN’s digital education platform launched in 2023, to deliver foundational and advanced digital skills training to participants across Ghana.
The MTN Skills Academy provides access to free, self-paced courses in:
- Coding & Software Development
- Artificial Intelligence
- Web Development
- Digital Marketing
- Data Analytics
- Cybersecurity
- Financial Literacy
MTN Group Senior Vice President for Markets, Ebenezer Asante, said the initiative aligns with MTN’s vision of driving African development through digital and financial inclusion.
“Between MTN and Ghana, we will partner using common projects to advance the cause of African development and youth empowerment. This partnership will leave a lasting impact on the future of Ghana’s digital economy,” Asante stated.
Bridging the Digital Skills Gap
With over 60% of Ghana’s population under the age of 25, the One Million Coders Program is expected to play a pivotal role in closing the country’s digital skills gap and preparing the next generation of Ghanaian youth for future jobs in the digital economy.
The initiative will target:
- Young people between the ages of 15-35
- Students in tertiary institutions
- Out-of-school youth
- Women in technology
- Youth in rural and underserved communities
By the end of the programme, at least 60% of the participants are expected to attain basic to advanced digital literacy proficiency, with a significant number trained in AI, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies.
A Catalyst for Digital Transformation
The One Million Coders initiative is set to become one of the largest digital skills empowerment projects in Ghana’s history — positioning the country as a key player in Africa’s digital transformation journey.
The programme will not only equip Ghanaian youth with future-proof skills but also foster the creation of a vibrant tech startup ecosystem, boosting innovation, job creation, and socio-economic development.
Structured implementation roadmap
Under the MoU, both parties will develop a structured implementation roadmap that will outline:
- Phased rollout of the One Million Coders Program
- Establishment of Digital Skills Centres of Excellence across Ghana
- Training of 10,000 master trainers to cascade the programme
- Integration of digital skills into Ghana’s education curriculum
- Partnerships with global tech companies and Ghanaian startups for mentorship and internship programmes
