By Christabel DANSO ABEAM
The Ministry of Communication and Digitalization (MoCD) is set to establish a trust fund to sustain the Girls in ICT initiative.
Addressing the media after a tour to various schools that have been provided with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) labs to train selected girls, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the sector minister explained that the trust fund is expected to support and enhance the programme’s efforts in empowering girls in the government basic schools through education and opportunities in the ICT sector.
According to her, the Trust aims to extend its reach beyond the current 3,000 girls trained annually to at least 10,000 while also focusing on sustaining and growing the mentorship aspect of the initiative.
She indicated that the decision to set up a trust fund came after facing challenges in securing enough funds for the Girls in ICT which led to the delay in implementation of the programme. “Recognizing the positive impact of educating young girls in the ICT field, the ministry and other key government and non-state actors are determined to ensure sustainability and progressiveness of the initiative.”
The Girls in ICT Trust Fund will have its board of trustees, assigned with writing of proposals to raise funds from various stakeholders which would include private sector companies and funding agencies.
Ms. Owusu-Ekuful believes that this approach will allow for greater flexibility and efficiency in raising funds and pledged that her ministry would continue to monitor and evaluate the impact of the programme on the lives of the girls. To encourage more girls to appreciate ICT, a competition would be held at the University of Ghana on July 9-10, among some selected girls being trained under the Girls in ICT programme.
Hundred girls will be selected to participate in the competition and will be given laptops each. From these, 10 girls will advance to the next round of the competition and will be awarded laptops and equipped ICT labs for their school.
The top three winners will also be awarded with laptops, equipped ICT labs and cash prizes. The Girls in ICT initiative is an effort aimed to encourage and empower young girls especially those in the basic levels to pursue courses and careers in the field of ICT and to bridge the gender gap in technology by providing resources, training and mentorship.
