The Director of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU’s), Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), Doreen Bogdan-Martin, on Monday, commended Ghana’s exploits in the Girls in ICT (GIICT) programme, which was introduced in 2012 by the ITU.

The purpose of prioritising the programme in Ghana is to empower and encourage girls and young women to acquire digital skills and consider careers in the growing field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

Since its inception, over 20,000 Ghanaians have benefited from this project including students, teachers and artisans.

Ms Bogdan-Martin made the commendation at the 8th World Telecommunications Development Conference (WTDC) organised by the ITU in Kigali.

The conference, which opened on June 6, 2022, and is scheduled to last till June 16, 2022, is being held on the African continent for the first time.

Every four years, the WTDC is organised to consider topics, projects, and programmes relevant to telecommunication development.

This year’s conference is on the theme, “Connecting the unconnected to achieve sustainable development.”

Since the introduction of the GIICT programme in Ghana, the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation under the leadership of Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has expanded the reach of the GIICT programme from 100 girls a year, to 5,000.

The initiative falls in line with the Ministry’s mandate to ensure digital inclusion of all, as it will help the country in the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 4 (Quality Education), Goal 5 (Gender Equality), Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) as well as the Government’s digitalisation agenda.

Speaking at the event, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful reiterated Ghana’s commitment to the ITU as well as the vision of ensuring that all living in Ghana contribute to and benefit from the digital economy agenda.

She also indicated that the Government of Ghana would continue to introduce digital and security interventions that are fundamental to economic transformation and social inclusion in all sectors of its economy.

The Minister and other representatives from Agencies in the Communications Industry are representing Ghana at World Telecommunication Development Conference 2022.

All about Girls in ICT

The Girls in ICT (GIICT) programme was introduced in 2012 by the International Telecommunication Union to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider studies and careers in the growing field of ICT.