Huawei Partners MoCD To Train 20,000 SHS Girls In Cybersecurity At Ashanti Region

Huawei Ghana has partnered the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation to organise a Cybersecurity training for 20,000 Senior High School Girls in Ashanti Region under the first phase of its Seeds for the Future- Women in Tech programme aimed at empowering more women and girls in STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics).

The training which falls under the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation’s National Girls-In-ICT programme will engage 11 (eleven) schools at the Senior High level to equip them on the fundamentals of cyber security and enable them stay safe in the cyber space.

Some beneficiary schools for the first phase of the training include Kumasi Wesley Girls Senior High School, Yaa Asantewaa Senior High School, St Louis Senior High School, Serwaa Nyarko Girls, Kumasi Girls, Adventist Girls SHS, St Mary's Girls, Afua Kobi Ampem Girls, St Monica's, TI Ahmadiya and Prince of Peace Girls.

The second and third phase of the training will take place at the Central and Eastern Regions of Ghana respectively and it is expected to double the number of beneficiaries.

Speaking on the programme, the Deputy Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs. Ama Pomaa Boateng mentioned that the initiative comes as part of efforts to continue empowering the youth with the technological skills they urgently need to thrive in the digital era.

She expressed the hope that much enthusiasm would be generated amongst girls to enhance ICT education in the country.

The Director of Public Relations for Huawei Ghana, Mrs. Jenny Zhou in expressing the ICT giant’s delight in partnering with the Ministry's Senior High School Edition of the Girls in ICT program mentioned that Huawei will continue to provide support for initiatives targeted at empowering more females to take up roles in the tech space.

"In the digital era, the most important measure to bridge the digital gender gap is through education. Whether its college education or social training, we need to give women more opportunities to participate in the digital profession.” She said

The Cybersecurity training which begun last Saturday, October 16, 2021 will focus on topics like Information Security, Cyber Bullying and Attacks, Child Online Protection Provisions in the New Cyber Security Act 2020, and tips on how to stay safe online.

The girls will also be sensitized on the need to report all cyber related issues to the National Cyber Security Authority by sending SMS the short code 292 for prompt response and assistance.