Girls in ICT 2026: Young girls urged to lead Ghana's digital future

Stakeholders in Ghana's Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector have urged young girls participating in the 2026 'Girls in ICT'programme to take advantage of emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), to develop innovative solutions to challenges confronting society. The call was made at the opening of the 2026 Girls in ICT Open Day on September 7 where 100 outstanding young girls from the participating regions were brought together to showcase their skills and receive further training, mentorship and exposure to Ghana's technology ecosystem. The Director-Generalof the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Center of Excellence in ICT(GI-KACE), Dr Ing. Afari Yeboah said the Open Day was an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the girls while preparing them to play an active role in Ghana's digital transformation. He noted that the themes for the 2025 and 2026 Girls in ICT initiatives—'Girls in ICT for Inclusive Digital Transformation' and 'AI for Development,Girls Shaping the Digital Future'—were particularly relevant as technology rapidly transforms society. 'Digital transformation can only be meaningful when the young ladies here have the opportunities not only to access technology but also to acquire the skills, confidence and opportunities needed to create and shape it.' Dr Yeboah said the growing influence of AI presented significant opportunities for young people, particularly in areas such as education, agriculture, healthcare, business, finance and public services. He, however, urged the participants to be mindful of the ethical implications of emerging technologies including privacy, cyber security, misinformation, fairness and bias. 'As future technology leaders, we mustr champion the ethical and responsible use of AI and digital technologies. Issues of privacy, cyber security, misinformation, fairness and bias must remain central to the solutions that you will develop.' Dr Yeboah also encouraged the girls to become ambassadors for other young women interested in technology. He urged the award recipients to use the programme as a stepping stone towards greater achievements. 'Let this moment be a springboard for greater achievements. Continue to learn, experiment, collaborate and pursue excellence. I leave you with these three simple words: Learn. Innovate. Lead. Learn continuously. Innovate boldly. And lead with purpose and responsibility.' The Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, also said the Girls in ICT initiative was more than a training programme, describing it as a national investment in the country's future. 'The Girls in ICT initiative was more than a training tour. It is a national investment. Technology, innovation and knowledge will shape the future of our nation. Yet women continue to remain underrepresented in fields like artificial intelligence, cyber security, software engineering and data science.' he said. The Minister encouraged the girls to develop the confidence and skills needed to become the next generation of innovators, engineers, developers and digital leaders. He also urged the participants to see themselves as future leaders in the technology space. 'Do not let anyone convince you that technology will be reserved for other people. See yourself as Ghana's and the world's next great software developer, the next AI researcher of our country, the next cyber security expert of our country, the next Minister of Communication when you qualify.' The Minister further challenged the girls to use technology to address real-world problems and contribute to national development. 'I urge you all to believe in yourselves, be bold enough to dream, be disciplined enough to work hard, be courageous enough to embrace challenges, but most importantly, I urge you to use technology to solve problems and improve lives and make Ghana proud.' Representing the Computer and Warehouse Group Ghana Limited's(CWG), Head of Project and Technology Services, Oluwaseun Layade, reaffirmed the company's commitment to supporting the Girls in ICT programme. He said the initiative was not only about technology but also about creating opportunities for young girls to develop confidence and skills. Oluwaseun Layade added that CWG Ghana has seen the transformative power of technology in businesses and communities and believed Ghana's digital future would be stronger if more girls pursued careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). He used the company's Managing Director, Harriet Attram-Yartey, as an example of the opportunities available to women in the ICT sector. "Our MD is a lady and CWG is one of the leading ICT companies in Ghana and one of the very few that has a lady at the helm of affairs. So don't think that you are too small, don't think that you are just a girl. This is a lady who started out in sales and marketing and right now is leading, and for the last 10 plus years, leading one of the premier ICT companies in Ghana' he stressed. He encouraged the girls to remain curious, creative and determined, noting that the skills they acquire could open doors to careers in software engineering, cyber security, Artificial Intelligence and data analytics. 'Take full advantage of this programme, learn as much as you can, ask questions and seize every opportunity to grow. The skills you develop today may shape your future and contribute to Ghana's development tomorrow.' The 2026 Girls in ICT Open Day is expected to provide the participating girls with opportunities for mentorship, hands-on demonstrations, coding and AI workshops, career guidance, leadership development and exposure to leading ICT institutions and technology companies. The programme brings together stakeholders from government, industry, education and the private sector in an effort to increase girls' participation in Ghana's digital transformation and prepare them for leadership roles in the technology sector.