Male Leaders Are Instrumental In Promoting Women’s Advancement in ICT – Sam George

The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations (MoCDTI), Hon. Samuel Nartey George , has called on male leaders to leverage their positions to influence policies that foster gender equity and to take on the responsibility of uplifting women in the ICT sector to tackle the ongoing inequalities in the field.

Delivering the keynote address at the 2025 Females in Tech (FEMITECH) Conference, which took place at the auditorium of the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (GI-KACE), Sam George stated that the conference is instrumental in inspiring, empowering, and mobilizing women in technology to take decisive steps in their careers and lead innovative initiatives that effect meaningful change in the tech industry.

He added that male leaders must step forward and act as mentors and sponsors for women in ICT by providing guidance and championing women's advancement within their organizations.

“Though male leaders have made commendable strides to support women, there remains much more to be accomplished. We must advocate for hiring practices that prioritize diversity. This entails implementing unbiased recruitment processes and actively seeking diverse candidate pools,” Sam George added.

He also pledged that under his tenure as Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, there will be positive discrimination for women-led Tech businesses as a measure to increase women's participation in ICT and encourage them to pick up leadership roles.

The FEMITECH Conference is an annual event that brings together women from across the tech industry with diverse backgrounds in ICT to share their stories and experiences and learn about new and emerging trends in the technology space. This year, the conference, which is in its third edition, took place in five regions: Oti, Greater Accra, Upper East, Bono, and Ashanti.

Ing. Dr. Collins Yeboah-Afari , the Director-General for GI-KACE, in his welcome address, described the current situation of women making up less than a third of the world’s workforce in technology-related fields as worrying.

“That is why the team at GI-KACE continues to embark on this Corporate Social Responsibility initiative each year to encourage women to particularly pick up careers in ICT and ultimately get more women in leadership positions in the technology space,” he said.

Ing. Yeboah-Afari disclosed that the FEMITECH conference will continue to recognize the amazing accomplishments women have made in diverse fields, especially the ICT sector.

“Over the years, GI-KACE has collaborated with MoCDTI, the World Bank, and several corporate organizations to institute several social interventions like Women in Tech, Girls in ICT, and Girls Can Code, among others, to break barriers, shatter glass ceilings, and increase the number of female representations in ICT,” he noted.

The FEMITECH conference brought together diverse women from academia, industry, and beyond to deliberate on pressing issues surrounding gender equality and equity in the technology sector.

Prof. Elsie Effah Kaufmann, PhD , Associate Professor and Dean of the School of Engineering Sciences at the University of Ghana, and Quiz Mistress of the National Science and Maths Quiz discussed the various advantages of having women leaders in organisations.

The Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Academic City University College, Ing. Dr Lucy Agyepong touched on privacy in the Cyber Age while urging women in tech to take cyber privacy seriously for their own personal safety and professional growth.

Oheneyere Augustina Asare Osei, Head of Government Relations, Ghana Gas, on her part also advocated for more women to participate, explore, and delve deep into ICT to help foster innovation and enhance efficiency in energy management.

Dr G. Ayorkor Korsah , Head of Department, Computer Science and Information Systems- Ashesi University, also gave a powerful presentation on 'Robotics; A Gateway to Creativity and Innovation.'

There was also an amazing panel discussion by distinguished speakers like Ama Adorkor Edjah. ACCA, CA , Ag. Chief Finance Officer-AT; Fred Yeboah , Director Research and Innovation; and Edna Engmann , Head, Transformation Programmes – Fidelity Bank on the topic 'Empowering the next Generation: How families can support girls in Tech' which was moderated by Emmanuella Godlove Osei .

The panel discussion offered invaluable insights into practical ways families can support girls in technology. The message was clear: active encouragement, access to mentors, and fostering a growth mindset are essential. As we move forward, let's translate these lessons into actionable steps, creating a supportive ecosystem that empowers girls to excel in the field of technology.