The Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, H. E. Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, on Thursday paid a working visit to the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations (MOCDTI) as part of her tour of Ministries to strengthen collaboration between the Presidency and Sector Ministries.
Welcoming the Management and Staff of the Ministry, the Vice President explained that the visit was intended to close perceived gaps between the Presidency and the Ministry, foster familiarity, and open direct channels of dialogue.
She emphasised that governance must be people-centred and collaborative, noting that effective delivery of the government’s agenda requires strong coordination across all levels of public service.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang congratulated the Minister and his team for their work over the past year and encouraged them to remain focused on delivering results that advance national development.
She reaffirmed the Presidency’s commitment to supporting the Ministry, particularly in areas of legislative reforms, digital transformation, and the promotion of responsible communication in an era of anonymity, misinformation, disinformation and hate speech.
Professor Naana Opoku-Agyemang stressed that any actions that threaten national peace must be discouraged, underscoring the importance of accountability in digital communications.
The Vice President also expressed strong interest in the government’s flagship One Million Coders Programme, describing it as a critical intervention for Ghana’s future.
Touching on efficiency and value for money, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang highlighted the need to avoid duplication of ICT systems across government and to maximise the role of central institutions such as NITA.
She commended efforts aimed at breaking down silos within the public service, noting, that Ghana’s limited resources must be used prudently.
The Sector Minister Hon. Samuel Nartey George (MP), outlined key achievements under the Ministry’s realigned mandate.
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He noted that the Ministry had initiated the review of outdated ICT laws, some of which are over two decades old. These include laws related to electronic communications, electronic transactions, cybersecurity, data protection, and the establishment of a dedicated framework to address misinformation, disinformation and hate speech while safeguarding constitutional freedoms.
On digital skills development, the Minister reported significant progress on the One Million Coders Programme, including the acquisition of 20,000 custom-built laptops and partnerships with major global technology companies such as Google, MTN, Huawei and Telecel, with ongoing engagements with Microsoft, Apple and Amazon.
The programme is expected to roll out in at least 100 constituencies by the end of the first quarter, targeting 400,000 beneficiaries this year.
The Minister also highlighted measures to curb waste in public ICT spending through strengthened oversight by NITA, improved inter-agency collaboration, and enhanced data sovereignty protections.
He cited improvements in passport delivery through partnerships with Ghana Post, progress in cybersecurity enforcement, advances in early warning systems for climate and agriculture, expansion of rural connectivity by GIFEC, and the Ministry’s transition to a fully paperless internal administration
