Ghana's 2018 ITU International Girls in ICT celebration was held in Kumasi, Ashanti Region on 11 May 2018 under the patronage of His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. Six hundred girls drawn from junior secondary schools in the Ashanti Region benefited from this year's activities. The day is celebrated annually in Ghana on a rotational basis among the ten regions of the country, with six regions participating to date, reaching thousands of girls and young women across the country.

This year, the participating girls were trained in coding and programming. Additionally, a mentorship element was introduced, providing inspiring role models who encouraged the girls to continue to pursue their interest in information and communication technologies (ICTs). The top ten performing girls were awarded prizes and the schools of the top three will also be given a fully equipped computer laboratory.

ITU Deputy Secretary-General Malcolm Johnson participated in the day's activities, and said: "It is good to see that Ghana is making every day a Girls in ICT Day, and it is marvellous what has been achieved with this initiative in Ghana. Everyone here is clearly passionate about education and encouraging the traditional authorities to be active stakeholders in the information society and promoting ICT skills, especially for girls. I congratulate the government for this achievement and for recently introducing free secondary education for all."

Speaking to the girls he explained that "this is what Girls in ICT Day is all about. The event here today is part of a global movement to inspire girls and young women to learn more about the amazing opportunities and careers offered by the ICT sector. Technology developments are creating new opportunities almost every day, and most of you will be in jobs in the future which do not even exist today. But one thing you can be sure of is that digital skills will be essential, essential for whatever career you chose to take."

While in Kumasi, the Deputy Secretary-General explored with His Majesty the King of Ashanti the possibility of using culture and tradition in the promotion of ICT for development, the digitalization of Ashanti folklore, customs and traditions and the archiving of the records of the traditional courts of the Asantehene.

Learn more about ITU's International Girls in ICT Day