The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful says 3,000 girls will benefit from this year's Girls in ICT initiative.

The Minister made this known during a press briefing in Accra on Sunday, September 5.

According to Mrs Owusu-Ekuful, although the project has been delayed, the government is sure to meet this projection.

"In 2021, we have projected to train 3,000 girls in three regions. We are starting late though, but by the end of the year, we would have attained this objective.

"We all know there is a gender digital divide and digital skills shortage globally and if indeed we want women to also take the place as partners in the development of our country, they must engage with the digital economy that is unfolding globally."

This training, she noted will help them thrive in the new world of work as traditional jobs are gradually being lost to the opportunities created by these technologies.

The Ablekuma West legislator also disclosed that nine districts in Western North Region and Preatea Huni Valley, which missed out on the training have been selected to present 1,000 girls to be trained in basic computer skills, fundamentals of programming, scratch and HTML.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Communications has completed the training of the first batch of 500 girls. The training of the second batch of 500 girls will, commence from Monday, September 6, to September 11.

On Wednesday, September 15, the mentorship event will be climaxed at Sefwi Wiawso under the global theme "Connected girls creating brighter futures".

The Minister stressed that government is keen on the development of the youth, adding that Under the Girls in ICT project, "584 girls from eight districts in the Oti Region, were trained in basic computer skills, coding and HTML in 2020 despite the pandemic."

Government has been implementing this project with the support of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), the National Communications Authority (NCA), the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT and various Regional Coordinating Councils.

Also, MTN, Mrs Owusu-Ekuful noted, has donated GH¢10 million to support the initiative for the next three years.

She, therefore, urged Ghanaian companies and well to do individuals to emulate the gesture.

"This is a major boost from corporate Ghana and we wish to encourage other corporate entities and individuals to support the cause of bridging the digital gender gap in ICT."

"American Towers and all the network operators have also supported this programme in various ways, particularly with the Open Day celebration, which is part of the component of the Girls in ICT at which we bring the best performing 100 girls to Accra to interact with women living and working with technology in the workplaces," she added.