The Administrator and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), Mr. Sofo Tanko Rashid-Computer, has joined the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, on a field visit to the Volta Region to assess the implementation of the One Million Coders Programme (OMCP) and inspect rural telephony infrastructure.
The visit, undertaken on Thursday, October 15, 2026, forms part of ongoing efforts by the Ministry and GIFEC to monitor digital inclusion initiatives, expand telecommunications coverage and improve access to digital skills training, particularly among young people and underserved communities.
The first day of the exercise involved engagements with regional authorities and traditional leaders, as well as inspections of selected Community Information Centres, youth ICT training facilities and Rural Telephony Project (RTP) sites.
The delegation began its activities in Ho with a courtesy call on the Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, at the Volta Regional Coordinating Council.
Discussions centred on regional development priorities, the expansion of digital connectivity and opportunities to equip young people with relevant technological skills to participate in Ghana’s growing digital economy.
The Minister and the GIFEC Administrator also paid courtesy calls on chiefs in some of the communities visited, recognising the role of traditional authorities in community development and the implementation of government-led digital inclusion initiatives.
The engagements provided an opportunity to strengthen collaboration among government institutions, local authorities and traditional leaders in support of improved telecommunications access and digital skills development.
As part of the visit, the delegation inspected the Ho Community Information Centre (CIC), which serves as a training centre under the One Million Coders Programme.
The team assessed the facility’s operations and its role in providing young people with practical information and communications technology (ICT) training.
The programme is intended to equip participants with digital competencies that can improve their prospects for employment and entrepreneurship while preparing them to participate more effectively in the digital economy.
The delegation also visited the Silverstone Youth ICT Lab at Agortime Ziope, another facility supporting the implementation of the One Million Coders Programme.
The engagement focused on the centre’s contribution to digital skills development and its potential to help young people acquire relevant competencies for the changing employment landscape.
The inspections formed part of efforts to assess the operations of the training facilities and their contribution to expanding access to technology-based learning opportunities.
The delegation also inspected a newly developed Rural Telephony Project site at Akoefe Gadza in the Ho Central Constituency.
The visit provided an opportunity for the Minister and the GIFEC Administrator to examine the progress of infrastructure development aimed at extending telecommunications services to communities with limited network coverage.
The Rural Telephony Project is a key component of GIFEC’s efforts to bridge Ghana’s digital divide by supporting the expansion of electronic communications infrastructure in underserved and unserved areas.
By extending network coverage to these communities, the initiative seeks to improve access to telecommunications services and create opportunities for residents to benefit from digital services.
The delegation later inspected an existing Rural Telephony Project site at Akoete in the Agortime Ziope area.
The inspection allowed the team to assess the existing infrastructure and examine connectivity within the beneficiary community as part of the broader exercise to monitor project implementation.
The field visit highlighted the importance of monitoring government-supported digital infrastructure and skills development initiatives to ensure that they respond to the needs of beneficiary communities.
It also underscored the need for effective collaboration among the Ministry, GIFEC, local authorities and traditional leaders to support the successful implementation of projects intended to expand access to digital services.
Through its Rural Telephony Project, Community Information Centres and support for digital skills development, GIFEC continues to play a role in efforts to improve telecommunications access and promote wider participation in Ghana’s digital economy.
The Volta Region exercise forms part of the Ministry’s broader oversight activities to assess progress on digital inclusion projects, verify infrastructure development on the ground and evaluate the implementation of initiatives designed to improve access to technology across the country.
Story by Bright Yao Dzaka
