Telecel Ghana welcomed 100 girls from various primary and junior high schools in the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions to its headquarters in Accra, as part of the National Girls-in-ICT Open Day initiative, an effort to encourage more women to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The open day, organized by the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, is part of a broader nationwide programme designed to close the gender gap in STEM. It gives girls from across Ghana the chance to observe technology-focused workplaces, interact with women in the industry, and gain practical experience in the STEM disciplines.
The Open Day began with an interactive demonstration featuring an AI-powered talking robot, which greeted the girls and answered their questions. The girls then participated in hands-on robotics and coding workshops, where they worked in teams to assemble simple robots from scratch, learning basic programming concepts.
The Women in Tech group at Telecel Ghana mentored the girls, sharing their professional experiences and offering career advice in areas such as data analytics, cybersecurity, digital transformation, engineering, robotics and digital marketing.
“Mentoring these young girls gives them the chance to know the kind of roles that exist in the tech space and make them aware of the possibilities around them,” said Victoria Aidoo, a Digital Transformation Specialist at Telecel Ghana. “I hope these sessions inspire them to pursue STEM courses in school and believe they can succeed because they’ve seen other women thrive in this field.”
The girls were equally enthusiastic with Shelly Sakyiwaa from Achimota Basic School expressing her passion for cybersecurity and eagerness to learn more about the field after the mentoring session. “I’m eager to learn more about the cybersecurity field after the mentoring session. Nkunim Kyerewaa Krankyi from St. Monica’s Junior High School also shared her renewed career goal. “I will keep on trying and never give up, even if I fail. I will do all I can to achieve my dreams and work in the technology industry.”
Officials from the Ministry said the initiative is a key part of Ghana’s strategy to build a more inclusive and competitive digital economy.
According to data from the International Telecommunication Union, women remain underrepresented in STEM fields globally, and targeted programmes like Girls in ICT aim to counter stereotypes that discourage girls from entering such careers.
Director of Legal and External Affairs at Telecel Ghana, Augusta Andrews said she hoped the visit would demystify the sector for the girls and show that the technology space is not limited by gender. “Technology is not a boys-only space. With the right guidance and determination, anyone can innovate, lead, and succeed in this industry. We believe this interaction will go a long way to spark interest and influence the girls to pursue careers in STEM,” Augusta said.
The girls ended their day with a clearer vision of skills and potential careers in the technology sector. Telecel Ghana said it remains committed to creating opportunities for young girls to explore STEM-related fields and to supporting national initiatives that promote diversity in the digital workforce.
