A member of Parliament on the Information and Communications Committee, Davis Opoku Ansah, has raised concerns over the government’s plan to procure more than 2,000 laptops at a unit cost of GH¢14,000 under the One Million Coders Programme, describing it as an overpriced purchase and a potential avenue for corruption.
The Mpraeso MP said the Cabinet’s directive to the National Communications Authority (NCA) to carry out the purchase without any specific budgetary allocation violates the Public Financial Management Act (PFMA), which governs the use of public funds.
Speaking during parliamentary debates on the State of the Nation Address, Mr. Opoku Ansah argued that the purchase of laptops at the proposed price far exceeds market rates and lacks transparency.
“Last year, the Cabinet caused the NCA to fund the purchase of computers for the One Million Coders Programme. One, this violates the Public Financial Management Act. Two, it is an overpricing exercise. A simple trip to Osu will indicate that a high-end computer suitable for coding should not cost more than GH¢10,000.
“But now, the Ministry intends to buy over 2,000 computers at GH¢14,000 each — a total of GH¢140 million,” he said.
The One Million Coders Programme is part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen the country’s digital economy, bridge the digital divide, and empower citizens through tech-driven education and skills development.
The initiative aims to equip one million Ghanaians, particularly students, professionals, and individuals with a keen interest in technology, with in-demand digital competencies.
It is designed to open doors to meaningful employment, entrepreneurship, and innovation by providing participants with structured learning pathways in high-impact areas.
