Tech for Girls seeks major investment push to train 100+ Ghanaian women in coding annually

A flagship initiative equipping Ghanaian women with software development skills is facing a critical funding bottleneck that threatens its expansion, according to programme founder Ambassador Johanna Swaniker. Speaking at the fourth cohort graduation ceremony, Swaniker emphasised that without substantially increased investment, Tech for Girls cannot launch new training batches or meet soaring demand from young women seeking coding expertise.

The programme, which targets women aged 18 to 35, has grown rapidly from its humble beginnings. What started as a smaller coding initiative during Swaniker's tenure as Ghana's Ambassador to France has evolved into a structured digital skills academy. Early versions reached about 150 girls through teacher-training schemes in schools. Tech for Girls now operates from a dedicated training centre with purpose-built classrooms and currently trains 80 participants in front-end and back-end software development.

Rapid growth and infrastructure needs

The scale of demand is outpacing resources. Enrolment has expanded from just 20 trainees in the programme's initial years to its current 80 participants. Swaniker revealed ambitions to increase intake to between 100 and 120 per cohort, with potential capacity for 160 women through a dual-shift system if funding materialises.

Yet significant gaps remain. Although the organisation has moved from rented facilities to permanent premises, critical infrastructure remains incomplete. A cafeteria for trainees ranks among the unfinished essentials needed to operate efficiently at larger scale.

Beyond classroom training, the programme delivers mentorship, internship placements and career guidance. This holistic approach has proven effective: graduates readily secure employment or establish their own ventures in Ghana's growing tech sector, where digital skills command premium value.

Why it matters for Ghana

Women's participation in Ghana's technology sector remains significantly below potential. Tech for Girls addresses a critical gap in digital economy access and opportunity. As global markets increasingly shift towards remote work, freelancing and digital entrepreneurship, Ghanaian women lacking coding skills face exclusion from high-income opportunities available to peers elsewhere.

Ambassador Swaniker articulated a compelling multiplier effect: empowered women typically share knowledge within families and communities, extending impact beyond individual graduates. In many Ghanaian households and social networks, women serve as primary knowledge conduits. Equipping them with technology skills creates cascading benefits across generations and social structures.

Broadcast journalist Harriet Nartey, speaking at the ceremony, framed digital literacy as essential for Ghana's future competitiveness. She noted that a young woman in Accra can now develop software for European clients, collaborate with Asian innovators, or build solutions for pan-African markets—opportunities unavailable without foundational coding knowledge.

Current support and future outlook

The programme has relied on family contributions, corporate sponsors and international partners, notably the Australian Government's Direct Aid Programme. This patchwork funding model, whilst functional for current operations, cannot sustain ambitious expansion plans.

Ambassador Swaniker directly appealed to Ghanaian businesses, philanthropists and development partners to increase support. The Heritage and Cultural Society of Africa (HACSA), which oversees Tech for Girls, plans to celebrate its 10th anniversary with a summit and international conference designed partly to mobilise additional resources and showcase programme impact.

The challenge is urgent. Ghana's digital economy is expanding, and demand for skilled developers far exceeds domestic supply. Closing the gender skills gap offers both social and economic returns, positioning Ghana competitively within West Africa's tech ecosystem whilst creating pathways for thousands of young women currently locked out of high-growth sectors.