Cybersecurity tops enrolment as one million coders programme expands to universities

Cybersecurity has emerged as the most popular track under Ghana’s One Million Coders Programme (OMCP), with 8,570 learners currently enrolled.

The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, disclosed this during the Government Accountability Series at the Jubilee House on Monday.

According to him, the programme’s integration into degree and diploma curricula at 11 leading universities including the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU) and University of Cape Coast (UCC), among others, is already reshaping student choices.

“At KNUST, more than 1,000 students have enrolled across centres such as the Department of Computer Science and the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Lab. While cybersecurity leads enrolment, other tracks including data analytics, AI Essentials, AI Professional and project management are also attracting significant interest,” he said.

Mr George noted that this reflects the growing demand for industry‑relevant digital skills alongside traditional academic qualifications.

The Minister mentioned that the government is extending the programme further by working with the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service to introduce foundational digital skills training for students aged 13 to 19, ensuring that the next generation is equipped for opportunities in Ghana’s evolving technology economy.

"The surge in enrolment indicates the programme’s role in bridging the gap between academic education and the practical digital competencies increasingly demanded by the labour market,” he stated.