The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) has received its first tranche of 500 laptops to support the nationwide rollout of the One Million Coders Programme (OMCP), as government moves to expand digital skills training across the country.

The laptops were distributed by the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations as part of a broader effort to equip institutions and training centres for the programme, which aims to prepare young Ghanaians for opportunities in the global digital economy.

The OMCP, launched nearly a year ago by President John Dramani Mahama at the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, began with a pilot phase targeting 500 trainees across four centres in Accra, Kumasi, Sunyani and Tamale.

However, demand surged, with nearly 94,000 applications received within 48 hours, prompting an expansion of the pilot to about 1,000 participants.

Speaking at a presentation ceremony at the Ministry’s Conference Room, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, said lessons from the pilot phase have helped shape the national rollout to ensure participants gain practical, job-ready skills.

Under Phase One, the programme will be delivered through 130 learning centres across all 16 regions, each equipped with 50 customised laptops configured for coding and digital training.

The rollout is being implemented in collaboration with key agencies, including the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications, Ghana Digital Centres Limited and the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT.

Twelve universities, including Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Ghana and the University of Cape Coast, are participating in the first phase.

The Minister also acknowledged private sector support, particularly from MTN Ghana, which contributed resources valued at about two million US dollars to procure additional laptops for selected universities.

The Ministry indicated that the application portal will soon reopen, allowing previous applicants to continue their registration, while new applicants complete a simplified verification process linked to the Ghana Card system.

Government has also recruited 130 constituency-level coordinators to manage the centres and provide technical support for trainees, with plans to expand the programme nationwide.