Communications Ministry to setup Girls-In-ICT trust Fund

The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation (MoCD) Mrs.Ursula Owusu-Ekuful (MP), has announced that plans were far advanced to set up a trust fund for the girls in Information and Communication Technology programme (Girls-In-ICT). Speaking at the Girls-In-ICT Climax Day at Koforidua Cultural Centre in the Eastern Region, she said the move was to institutionalise and ensure the sustainability of the initiative.

“We need the public and the private sector working together to make this happen. The Girls in ICT project must survive beyond Ursula Owusu-Ekuful”, she noted.

“The future is digital and the future is women and our girls are an integral part of the future so Girls-In-ICT programme must continue”, she said.

According to her, the Ministry would further implement the Girls-In-ICT in three more regions. Adding, it is the more reason why government needs to strengthen the coverage of more students across the country.

She underscored the need for all to start instilling into the young girls that they are not inferior hence the need to give them the digital space to acquire a more balanced industry.

At the climax, the top three beneficiaries in the competition were awarded a plaque each, laptop each and a cash prize ranging from Ghc3,000, Ghc2,500 and Ghc2,000 for positions of first, second and third respectively.

About 100 laptops were also given to beneficiaries who emerged victorious in the competition organized to access their level of understanding.
 
Chairperson of the occasion, Omanhene of New Juaben, Nana Kwaku Boateng lll expressed gratitude for the moves by the Ministry to train and boost the morale of Girls in learning ICT.

Girls in ICT programme, he said was aimed at inspiring young ladies in the ICT and unlocking their interest in ICT in the early age and provide them with necessary resources to improve their well-being and career in education.

The special guest of honour at the climax ceremony, Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, encouraged the beneficiaries of the programme and commended the minister for establishing such legacy that would continue to empower more girls and young women for generations to come.

For his part, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) said he was committed to providing a cutting edge support in bridging the digital. He stressed that the role of the agency is to build capacity of the Girls in the study of ICT.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Gifty Twum Ampofo, reiterated the commitment of the Ministry in supporting the programme and commended the Communications ministry for their efforts to champion the course of digitalisation across the schools in the country.
GIFEC Ghana Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (GI-KACE) Cyber Security Authority National Communications Authority National Information Technology Agency(NITA) Ghana.