Code Connect

Background

As Ghana emerges as a promising outsourcing hub for IT and related services, the demand for digital skills continues to rise. Yet, a significant skills gap persists—particularly in high-growth areas like data analysis, AI, and software engineering. While Ghana’s youth hold great potential, many lack access to structured training opportunities. Addressing this gap is essential to ensure inclusive participation in the digital economy, especially for young people in underserved communities.

Challenges that will be solved

Despite a strong digital economy outlook, young Ghanaians—particularly students in public schools—face limited access to foundational digital skills. There is also a need for teacher capacity-building, scalable digital literacy models, and stronger private-sector involvement. CodeConnect aims to tackle these gaps by integrating coding and digital skills into early education, building a generation of learners equipped for the future of work.

Key Components

• School-Based Coding Clubs: Launched in October 2024 in four public schools in Greater Accra, the pilot introduced over 100 students to coding using Scratch. These clubs provided hands-on experience and encouraged problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration.
• Train-the-Trainer Workshops: A 3-day intensive training was organized for 19 teachers from the participating schools. Teachers received direct instruction and on-the-ground mentorship from IIPGH tutors, preparing them to independently run the clubs and sustain the initiative.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: The launch brought together key players—including IT Consortium, TECHAiDE, World Vision Ghana, Nasco Feeding Minds, and the Ablekuma West Municipal Assembly—demonstrating strong cross-sector support.
• Scalability and Expansion: Building on the success of the pilot, Swisscontact and IIPGH plan to scale the initiative over four years, incorporating digital entrepreneurship modules through TVET institutions to better prepare students for careers in the ICT sector.

Vision

CodeConnect envisions a Ghana where every young learner, regardless of background, has access to the digital skills needed to succeed in the modern economy. By empowering teachers, engaging communities, and fostering partnerships, the initiative aims to close the digital literacy gap and prepare a tech-savvy generation ready to drive innovation. The project sets a replicable model for future training programs and invites private-sector partners to help scale this impact across the country.