Sam George Orders Immediate Fix After One Million Coders Centre Misses Monthly Data Allocation

The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, has intervened to resolve a data allocation problem at the Silverstone Youth ICT Lab, an One Million Coders Programme (OMCP) centre in Agortime Ziope in the Volta Region, after discovering that the facility had not received its expected monthly data allocation.

The incident occurred during the minister’s visit to the centre as part of his two-day working tour of the Volta Region, where he is inspecting digital training facilities and rural telecommunications infrastructure.

During his interaction with the centre’s staff and learners, Hon. Sam George asked whether the facility had received its monthly data allocation. Although officials indicated that data had been sent to centres in the region, the centre’s representatives said they had not received theirs.

The minister subsequently examined the allocation records and discovered that the list displayed on the platform contained only three centres in the Volta Region: Anloga, Ketu South and Ho Central, despite the region having 18 OMCP centres.

Concerned about the discrepancy, Sam George contacted the relevant official in Accra and demanded clarification on why the allocation records did not reflect all the centres expected to receive the monthly support.

“I want to see the list you've sent. I want to get to the bottom of it,” he insisted, directing officials to provide the complete records while he remained at the facility.

An official subsequently explained that data had been sent to about 16 centres that afternoon and suggested that the list displayed on the platform might have been truncated. The minister, however, insisted on seeing the records to establish what had actually been sent and received.

The incident exposed a gap between the reported dispatch of data and confirmation that the intended beneficiaries had received their allocations.

Sam George questions the airtime-to-data arrangement

Beyond the initial allocation discrepancy, the minister raised concerns about the system used to provide internet access to the centres.

He questioned why MTN was sending airtime that centre managers had to convert into data instead of crediting the devices directly with internet bundles.

Hon. Sam George argued that the conversion process created unnecessary administrative difficulties and increased the risk of centres going without internet access if managers failed to complete the process.

“They should send data directly,” he said, explaining that the operators already had the numbers of the devices used at the centres.

He disclosed that the facility had 329 GB of data available, which he considered sufficient to support its operations for a month.

The minister directed his team to engage MTN over the arrangement and said he expected the issue to be addressed before the next monthly allocation in November.

“I don't want to see this business of airtime,” he stressed, insisting that the support should be provided as data rather than airtime requiring conversion.

Data received during the minister's visit

The matter was addressed while Mr George was at the centre, with airtime received during his visit following his intervention.

The minister’s engagement highlighted the need for improved monitoring and accountability in the distribution of internet resources to facilities supporting the One Million Coders Programme.

The centres provide training opportunities for young people in areas including digital marketing, project management and cybersecurity.

During the visit, Sam George also encouraged learners to look beyond seeking formal employment after completing their courses and consider establishing businesses that offer digital services to other enterprises.

He urged cybersecurity students to progress beyond the beginner level to intermediate and advanced training to strengthen their skills and improve their career prospects.

The incident underscored the importance of ensuring that the digital facilities established to support the government’s skills development agenda receive reliable internet access to enable learners to benefit fully from their training.

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