Ing. Patricia Obo-Nai, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Telecel Ghana, has revealed that the company has partnered with the government to provide free coding training to 100,000 young Ghanaians.
According to the Telecel CEO, they have partnered with the Government’s under One Million Coders Programme.
She disclosed that the coding training course normally costs US$50 to obtain a certificate, but Telecel will sponsor all participants for free.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, 12th March, Telecel Ghana CEO stated, “We are partnering with the government on the One Million Coders. We are training 100,000 for free, as our contribution.”
“If you were going to pay for it, it is US$50 per license, but our platform, in partnership with Start Your Code, is about a five-million-dollar contribution that we will be putting into society,” she said.
“So, carrying your Telecel SIM is not just about enjoying data and voice services, but it is also your opportunity to give back to society through our brand,” the CEO added.
In related news, President John Dramani Mahama, at the launch of the “One Million Coders” program, described it as more than a fulfilled campaign promise.
According to him, it is a strategic pillar for the reset Ghana agenda.
Speaking at the launch of the programme on April 16, 2025, John Mahama, “The One Million Coders program is not just a fulfilled campaign promise. It is a strategic pillar of our Reset Ghana agenda. Designed to empower Ghanaians with digital skills critical for 21st-century life and work.
“It is an intentional move towards building a knowledge-based innovation-driven economy, one where our greatest resource, our people, are equipped to create solutions, generate jobs, and be able to compete globally. At the heart of this initiative is our belief in the Ghanaian youth. We believe in your creativity, your resilience, and your boundless potential. This program is an investment in our youth, investment in their future as coders, as analysts, as entrepreneurs, and as tech pioneers,” he added.
“Over the next four years, the One Million Coders program will train one million Ghanaians in essential digital skills, from coding and cybersecurity to data analytics and networking. These are not just technical abilities. They are economic passports, pathways to decent jobs, entrepreneurship, and long-term socio-economic inclusion,” he added.
Also, a New Patriotic Party (NPP) member of parliament for Mpraeso, Davis Opoku Ansah, has blown an alarm on an alleged chop-chop under the John Mahama government’s One Million Coders Programme.
According to Davis Opoku, the government is overpricing laptops under the One Million Coders Programme, with each unit costing ₵14,000.
Davis Opoku highlighted that a high-end computer that should be used for coding should not cost more than ₵10,000.
The NPP MP further stressed that the purchase of the laptops without budgetary allocation breaches the Public Financial Management Act and called it a potential avenue for corruption.
Speaking on the floor of parliament, MP Davis Opoku Ansah stated, “Last year, the cabinet had to cause the National Communications Authority to fund the purchase of computers under the One Million Coders Program. This is a clear violation of the Public Financial Management Act.
Cabinet and, for that matter, the president cannot cost an institution of state to fund another institutional fit when it’s not budgeted. And I think this should be something we shouldn’t encourage”.
He further added, “What is a bit more worrying is that the Ministry of Communication intends to purchase one computer for 14,000 Ghana cedis. If you look at their projections, today a laptop will be purchased for 140 million under His Excellency John Dramani Mahama’s administration.
140 million under His Excellency John Dramani Mahama’s administration, we are wondering what proper procurement measures were put in place to ensure that there is value for money”.
The NPP MP further added, “One, you are violating the Public Financial Management Act. Two, you’re overpricing prices. In fact, Mr Speaker, just a trip to Osu here will indicate that a high-end computer that should be used for coding should not cost more than 10 thousand Ghana cedis.
But today, when the Ministry intends to purchase over 2,000 pieces of computer, they are purchasing one for 14 thousand Ghana cedis. 140 million, Mr Speaker, if this is not chop-chop, then I’m wondering what. How much is my phone? How much is the computer?”