In the race to win the hearts and votes of the Ghanaian populace, political parties often make grand promises aimed at solving the country's most pressing challenges. One of the more recent main promises of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), have both pledged to train one million people in coding.

On the surface, this commitment seems like a step towards addressing the unemployment crisis and bridging the digital skills gap in Ghana.

However, a closer look by our trend analysis on the Manifesto’s of both the NPP and NDC reveals that this promise, while ambitious, is largely unrealistic without substantial groundwork and strategic planning.

The idea of training one million people in coding aligns with global trends where digital skills are becoming essential for economic growth. Countries worldwide are pushing for a digitally literate workforce to stay competitive in the global economy, and Ghana is no exception. Coding, in particular, is viewed as a "future-proof" skill that can unlock opportunities in software development, data science, artificial intelligence, and other tech-driven fields.

Both the NPP and NDC are aware of these dynamics and are keen to present themselves as forward-thinking parties committed to creating jobs for the youth, driving innovation, and transforming Ghana into a digital economy hub. However, the promise to train one million coders, though well-intentioned, fails to consider several critical factors.

The Ground Reality: Barriers to Training One Million Coders

Lack of Infrastructure and Resources:


Ghana, like many developing countries, faces significant challenges in terms of digital infrastructure. Many rural areas still lack access to reliable internet, electricity, and modern computer facilities. Training one million people would require an enormous investment in infrastructure that the government has not yet put in place. Without addressing these foundational barriers, the promise remains hollow.

Shortage of Qualified Instructors:

Coding is not a skill that can be learned overnight. It requires a strong foundation in logic, mathematics, and problem-solving, guided by skilled instructors. Currently, there is a significant shortage of qualified coding teachers in Ghana. Scaling up to train one million people would require thousands of trainers who are not only proficient in coding but also skilled in pedagogy—a resource that is currently scarce.

Ensuring Quality and Relevance:

The quantity of training does not equate to quality. Coding education must be relevant to the job market and focus on critical thinking, problem-solving, and real-world applications. Without a clear and structured curriculum that ensures in-depth understanding and practical experience, the outcome would be a large number of under-skilled individuals who struggle to find employment. This would lead to a mismatch between training and market needs.

Sustainability and Follow-Up:

Learning to code is not just about attending a boot camp or completing an online course. It requires continuous practice, mentorship, and real-world application. Neither the NPP nor the NDC has laid out a comprehensive plan on how they intend to provide ongoing support, job placement, or entrepreneurial opportunities for these one million coders. Without a sustainable follow-up strategy, the initial training could become a wasted effort.

Funding and Financial Constraints:

Training one million people in coding would require billions of cedis in investment—covering facilities, equipment, training materials, instructors, and administrative costs. In a country where the budget is already stretched thin across critical sectors like healthcare, education, and infrastructure, where will this funding come from? The NPP and NDC have not provided any clear budgetary allocation or funding strategy to back this promise.

Market Saturation and Unrealistic Expectations:

Even if one million people were trained in coding, the job market could quickly become saturated. Not everyone who learns to code will become a software developer, nor is there enough demand in Ghana’s current tech industry to absorb such a vast number of coders. Without simultaneous efforts to expand the tech industry, promote startups, and attract foreign tech companies to Ghana, the promise could end up creating an oversupply of coders with limited job opportunities.

A Call for Realistic and Sustainable Solutions

Rather than making sweeping promises, the NPP and NDC should focus on more realistic and targeted solutions that address the root of the digital skills gap:

Improving Basic Education:

Before diving into advanced coding, there needs to be a solid foundation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at the primary and secondary school levels. Strengthening STEM education will create a pipeline of students better prepared for advanced digital skills.

Targeted and Sector-Specific Training:

Instead of a blanket approach to coding, focus on targeted training programs that address specific sectors like agriculture (agri-tech), healthcare (health-tech), education (ed-tech), and financial services (fin-tech). This would make the training more relevant and immediately applicable, increasing the chances of job creation and economic impact.

Public-Private Partnerships:

The government should work with tech companies, educational institutions, and NGOs to create more sustainable coding academies, mentorship programs, and internship opportunities. Collaborations can help bridge the gap between education and industry needs, providing real-world experience and job placement opportunities.

Building Digital Infrastructure:

A significant investment in digital infrastructure—especially in rural areas—is necessary. This includes reliable internet access, electricity, and modern learning facilities. Building the infrastructure will not only support coding education but also enable broader economic development.

Support for Startups and Innovation

Encourage and support tech startups and innovation hubs that can absorb newly trained coders. This includes creating favorable policies, providing seed funding, and offering tax incentives for tech companies that set up in Ghana.

The promise to train one million people in coding by both the NPP and NDC, while well-meaning, is an unrealistic and overly ambitious goal given the current realities on the ground. Instead of making headline-grabbing promises, political parties should focus on more targeted, sustainable, and realistic approaches to digital education and job creation. For Ghana to truly thrive in the digital age, we need well-thought-out plans, substantial investment in education and infrastructure, and a commitment to quality over quantity. Only then can we build a digitally literate workforce ready to drive the nation's growth in the 21st century.