Bawumia: Digital Youth Hubs to position Ghana as regional skills hub

Vice-President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has announced that the Digital Youth Hub (DYH) under construction at the University of Ghana will be completed and inaugurated in December 2024.
The project is part of the government’s efforts to enhance digital skills and entrepreneurship among the country’s youth.
The DYH, developed through a partnership between the University of Ghana, the Ministries of Finance (MoF) and Communications and Digitalisation (MoCD), is the first of several hubs planned nationwide under the Ghana CARES programme.

The Digital Youth Hub is set to be a game-changer in Ghana’s digital ecosystem, providing a foundation for youth entrepreneurship and economic growth in the technology sector.

Building sustainable technology businesses
Dr. Bawumia emphasized the importance of the hub, stating that it would provide young Ghanaian tech entrepreneurs with a space to collaborate, innovate, and build sustainable technology businesses with support from key stakeholders.
During his visit to the construction site on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, Dr. Bawumia highlighted that the project would be replicated in Cape Coast, Kumasi, and Tamale, ensuring broader access to digital opportunities for Ghana’s youth.

2,200 capacity auditorium
He stressed the role of the hub in making Ghana a leading regional skills center, noting that the facility’s auditorium, which can accommodate 2,200 people, would be the largest on the University of Ghana campus.
Dr. Bawumia pointed out that the project aligns with a larger national vision of digital transformation.
He explained that countries leveraging the 4th Industrial Revolution would experience significant economic growth, and Ghana must ensure its youth are equipped with the necessary digital skills to thrive in this new era.

Fostering tech entrepreneurs
He expressed optimism about the potential of the hub to foster tech entrepreneurs and attract investors, making Ghana a digital leader in Africa.

One million digital entrepreneurs
Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, who provided an overview of the Ghana CARES programme during the Vice-President’s visit, added that the Digital Youth Hub is expected to train one million digital entrepreneurs.

$5m endowment fund
To support the hub’s operations, the minister said a $5 million endowment fund would be established.
“The hub will provide everything needed to help Ghanaian youth develop valuable skills,” Dr. Amin Adam said, emphasizing its pivotal role in the Vice-President’s commitment to training one million young people in digital skills.
Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, also assured that the hub is on track for completion.

First phase is 55% complete
She revealed that construction began in January 2024 after the project’s inception in November 2022, and the first phase is now 55% complete, with an expected completion date in December 2024.
The project is situated on a five-acre plot of land allocated by the University of Ghana, with an additional five acres reserved for potential hostel facilities.
The architects and contractors have assured the Vice-President that Phase 1 will be ready for unveiling in early December.