By Kodjo Adams
Accra, March 28, GNA – Professor Amevi Acakpovi, the Vice-Chancellor of Accra Technical University (ATU), has called on the government to put in place policies to enhance digital literacy to equip women to participate fully in the technology space.
The initiative, the Vice-Chancellor stated, would help bridge the gender gap in the field of digital economy.
This was in a speech read on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor to mark International Women’s Day in Accra.It is on the theme: “Advancing the Role of Women in the Digital Economy and AI Innovation.”
The event was organised by ATU in partnership with Ibelieve Global.
He called on the government to improve Internet accessibility and subsidise the cost of data, especially in the rural areas, to ensure inclusivity.
The Professor appealed to the authorities to sustain the promotion of inclusive Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics to enable the women to develop interest in digital education.
He called on the government to support women-led initiatives to encourage them to have role models they could learn from.
Women, he stated, were catalysts in innovation and inclusion and needed to be empowered to contribute to the socio-economic development.
Research reveals that 60 per cent of women own smartphones.
The urban areas have 80 per cent access to the Internet, while the rural areas have 54 per cent.
Also, 45 per cent of women entrepreneurs in Africa lacked the resources to access the Internet.
Prof Acakpovi underscored the importance of the new economy in shaping the future of artificial intelligence, urging women to take advantage of technology to advance their potential.
Prof Smile Gavua Smile, Director of I Believe Global, an NGO said their outfit was committed to achieving gender equality in the country.
She said it was important to accelerate actions in areas where women were lagging behind in the digital space to address the disparity gap.
Prof Smile encouraged women to set a vision and work towards achieving their future aspirations.
Prof Nana Yaw Asabere, Dean, Applied Sciences, ATU, urged women to venture into coding skills because it helped to develop websites, applications, and software engineering.
He called for the introduction of coding at the early stage to increase learning abilities in the country.
GNA
CA