BY Daniel Bampoe
The Mahama administration’s flagship digital skills initiative, the One Million Coders Programme (OMCP), has come under intense public criticism following allegations that the project is a “hoax,” a “political gimmick,” and another overhyped government promise lacking transparency and proper implementation.
The controversy, which exploded across social media platforms particularly X and TikTok, has forced the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations as well as the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) into full public defence mode amid growing skepticism from sections of the technology community and the public.
At the centre of the backlash are accusations that some of the training centres announced under the One Million Coders Programme either did not exist or were inactive, while others questioned the rationale behind directing trainees to online learning platforms such as Coursera after government had heavily promoted the initiative as a major national digital transformation project.
Critics also raised concerns about the procurement and distribution of specialised coding laptops, with online commentators questioning the cost, transparency and actual availability of the devices promised under the programme.
The controversy quickly escalated into a broader debate about the credibility of government digitalisation promises and whether the initiative was genuinely designed to train one million young Ghanaians or merely intended as a politically attractive campaign slogan.
The One Million Coders Programme formed part of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s broader digital transformation agenda championed by President John Dramani Mahama during the 2024 election campaign.
The programme was marketed as a bold intervention aimed at equipping Ghanaian youth with coding, software engineering and digital innovation skills to prepare them for opportunities within the global digital economy.
Government officials argued that the initiative would help reduce unemployment, expand Ghana’s technology workforce and position the country as a leading digital hub within Africa.
However, weeks after implementation began, critics and some self-described IT professionals started publicly questioning aspects of the programme’s execution, triggering widespread online arguments over its legitimacy and operational structure.
In response to the growing criticism, Minister for Communications, Samuel Nartey George, mounted a strong public defence of the initiative and accused critics of deliberately spreading misinformation.
According to Sam George, many of the allegations circulating online were politically motivated and not grounded in facts.
“I have always reiterated that personally and officially, I am always open to informed and constructive criticism and opinions,” he stated. “Criticisms that jump on bandwagon trends and fail to be based on fact are treated with contempt because they are not only mischievous but intended to misinform.”
To counter claims that the programme was fictitious, the Minister personally embarked on monitoring tours of selected training centres within the Greater Accra Region including the Accra College of Education, Gbegbeise JHS and the Mamprobi Community Information Centre.
During the visits, the Minister interacted with trainees and facilitators while insisting that the programme was active, operational and already impacting participants positively.
Beyond the One Million Coders controversy, another layer of public criticism emerged regarding NITA’s regulatory activities and proposed ICT-related fees and certification structures.
Some social media users accused NITA of unlawfully implementing provisions from a proposed bill that had not yet been approved by Parliament, with critics describing the move as unconstitutional and a possible “digital coup.”
In response, NITA issued a detailed five-page statement defending its legal authority and rejecting claims that it was secretly operationalising future legislation.
According to the agency, the fees, accreditation systems and registration categories currently being enforced are derived from already existing laws and Legislative Instruments, not from any pending bill before Parliament.
NITA specifically cited the National Information Technology Agency Act, 2008 (Act 771), the Electronic Transactions Act, 2008 (Act 772), the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2022 (Act 1080), as well as Legislative Instruments 2481 and 2512 as the legal basis for its operations.
The agency further rejected accusations that it was acting outside its legal mandate, arguing that the registration and licensing of ICT professionals and digital service providers had existed within Ghana’s legal framework for years.
NITA also defended controversial accreditation fees for fintech and e-commerce entities, insisting that the charges were lawfully established under existing Legislative Instruments and necessary to ensure digital security and consumer protection.
The growing public resistance against the programme and NITA’s enforcement measures reflects wider concerns among sections of Ghana’s technology ecosystem about regulation, transparency and government handling of digital transformation initiatives.
Technology analysts say the backlash demonstrates increasing public scrutiny of government digital programmes, especially those launched with ambitious promises and large-scale political branding.
While government officials insist the One Million Coders Programme remains active and impactful, critics continue to question whether the initiative’s implementation matches the scale and expectations originally presented to Ghanaians.
