The Government, through the Ministry of
Communications and Digitalisation in partnership with Tony Blair Institute for
Global Change (TBI), has launched a $1.2
million digital skill training programme, named DigSMART.
Other partners are the Ghana Cares 'OBAATANPA PROGRAMME', the
National Information Technology Authority (NITA), and the Ghana -India Kofi
Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (AITI-KACE)
The programme is aimed at building digital skills, culture, and leadership within the public sector to determine a more cohesive and
accelerated digital transformation for service delivery.
The Six months programme is scheduled to kick start from
April to September 2023 at the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in
ICT ( GI-KACE) in Accra. It is expected to train over 170 (One Hundred and
Twenty) public sector workers from various levels of leadership, management, and
officers from MDAs.
The Deputy Minister, Ms.Ama Pomaa-Boateng (MP), who launched
the programme on behalf of the Sector Minister, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful (MP),
emphasized the point that "A collaborative effort by all leaders toward
digital transformation, is a critical requirement for positive impact to be
made".
"As we are developing a new digital economy policy, we
have put forward a vision with a key outcome to enable efficient delivery of
government services" She observed.
She added that Digital transformation must happen, and it
begins with the awareness of the need to change, and the willingness to do
things differently.
The Minister said, "we anticipate the need for change
management in the adoption of a new way of working within government as well as
to be effective in delivering inclusive, citizen-centric, secure digital
services".
She said that DigSMART would also fast-track
Digitalisation so that public sector workers become more effective in their
service delivery, It will cultivate a digital-first culture and develop
visionary leaders who are adept at navigating tech policy.
The Country Director of TBI Ghana was full of excitement to
be part of the transformational effort that he said will have a positive ripple
effect through the corridors of government.
“DigSMART is a flagship programme for TBI Digital Academy;
since it is the first of its kind to be developed and brought to three (3)
African countries: starting with Ghana as a pioneer and followed by Malawi and
Senegal in 2023”, he added.
The launch was participated by representatives from the
Office of President, Office of the Head of Civil Service, Ministry of Finance
& Economic Planning, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Food &
Agriculture, Ministry of Trade & Industry, and Ministry of Local & Rural
Planning.