Technology is revolutionising industries across the globe, and Ghana is no exception. One initiative at the forefront of this transformation is the Heritage and Cultural Society of Africa (HACSA) Tech for Girls programme, which provides women and girls with critical training in digital skills ranging from web development to artificial intelligence.

On Thursday, February 6, 2025, the Kempinski Hotel, Gold Coast City, Accra, hosted the Award Ceremony and Project Fundraiser launch for the third cohort of the HACSA Tech for Girls programme.

At the prestigious event, HACSA founder, Johanna Svanikier underscored the programme’s impact in shaping careers and empowering the next generation of women leaders in the digital world.

“The Tech for Girls program is bridging the gender gap in technology by offering training in digital skills such as ICT, coding, and generative AI to girls and women,” Svanikier said.

“We have two classes: front-end and back-end. The girls learn how to code and develop websites. Beyond technical skills, we also equip them with soft skills and leadership training to prepare them for the future. The program has been incredibly impactful.”

The event also featured testimonials from graduates who have successfully transitioned into the tech space. Marriet Aho, a web development graduate, shared how HACSA equipped her with the skills to build functional websites, including banking platforms.

“I came without any coding experience, but I am leaving with a valuable skill set,” Aho said.

“I can develop a website on my own without copying and pasting. At Tech for Girls, we learn from the basics to the advanced level. Now, I confidently code everything myself, using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.”

Another beneficiary, Rabi Sabutey, who developed a food delivery website called ‘YummyCrave,’ encouraged other young women to explore opportunities with the HACSA Tech for Girls program.

“I specialised in front-end development, learning HTML, CSS, and JavaScript,” Sabutey said.

“Through this training, I successfully built a functional restaurant website, YummyCrave, from scratch. The program has been a game-changer for me, and I urge other girls to take advantage of it.”

Looking ahead, the HACSA Tech for Girls Foundation has set an ambitious goal to train 10,000 girls in technology by 2027, paving the way for more women to excel in the digital age.

With initiatives like these, Ghana is steadily positioning itself as a hub for female-driven innovation in technology.

The ceremony at the Kempinski Hotel, Gold Coast City, Accra, was a celebration of progress and a call to action for greater inclusion of women in the digital economy.

As the programme continues to expand, it promises to unlock more opportunities for young women across Africa, ensuring that they are not just consumers of technology but also creators and leaders in the field.