In 2017, the UAE Launched the One Million Arab Coders Program—It Led to Market Saturation. What Can Ghana Learn in its 1 Million Coders project ?

[Want to get automatic updates on ethel cofie’s blog post of Africa, technology, ecosystems and doing business in Africa sign up here ]

 

In 2017, the UAE Launched the One Million Arab Coders Program—It Led to Market Saturation. What Can Ghana Learn in its 1 Million Coders project ?

Introduction: A Cautionary Tale for Ghana

In recent conversations within Ghana’s tech ecosystem, it became evident that many do not realize that both major political parties proposed a 1 Million Coders program in their digital manifestos. This signals a strong recognition that digital skills are essential for Ghana’s future. But to maximize impact, we must ask:

Key Questions:

1️⃣ Is a mass coders initiative still relevant in the age of AI? With automation taking over, do we need 1 million programmers?

2️⃣ How do we ensure job creation, not just training? Without a structured framework, Ghana risks oversaturating the market with unemployed coders.

To answer these questions, we must look at the lessons from the One Million Arab Coders (OMAC) program, launched by the UAE in 2017. While successful in many ways, it also led to an oversupply of junior developers, limited job opportunities, and stagnant salaries due to an imbalance between training and employment demand.

 

The Good: Why a 1 Million Coders Initiative Could Be a Game-Changer

1. Bridging Ghana’s Digital Skills Gap

Ghana’s internet penetration is 69.8%, with 24.06 million active internet users. Mobile connections have surpassed 113% of the population, showing broad access to digital tools. (bridgelabs.tech) 💡 A digital economy cannot thrive without a skilled workforce. Coding, alongside AI, data science, and cybersecurity, will be key to bridging Ghana’s talent gap.

2. A Pipeline for Tech-Led Economic Growth

The global software development industry grew from 21 million engineers in 2016 to 26.9 million in 2022. (Wikipedia) The African tech ecosystem raised $6.5 billion in venture capital in 2022, yet Ghana lags behind Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya. (Partech Africa) 💡 If executed correctly, a large-scale coding initiative can attract investors, improve Ghana’s global competitiveness, and create jobs.

3. Job Creation & Youth Empowerment

Ghana’s median age is 21.5 years—one of the youngest populations in Africa. Youth unemployment is 19.7%, with many graduates lacking market-ready skills. 💡 A well-executed digital skills program could empower young Ghanaians to build solutions, start businesses, and secure remote jobs.

The Bad: Lessons from the UAE’s One Million Arab Coders Program

1. Market Saturation: Too Many Coders, Too Few Jobs

• OMAC successfully trained over one million people, but local job markets struggled to absorb them.
• Many junior-level coders found themselves competing for the same limited roles.
• Instead of becoming an engine for job creation, the program flooded the market with entry-level talent.

💡 Lesson for Ghana: Training alone is not enough. Ghana must ensure there is demand for coders before producing them at scale. The focus must be on job creation, not just education.

2. Salary Stagnation & Underemployment

• With an oversupply of entry-level programmers, salaries dropped as companies had an abundance of applicants for every role.
• Many newly trained coders were forced into low-paying freelance work or unrelated jobs because full-time employment was scarce.

💡 Lesson for Ghana: Quality over quantity—Ghana should focus on producing highly skilled, employable coders rather than simply hitting a numerical target. Specialized training in AI, cybersecurity, fintech, and data science will create a more resilient workforce.

3. Lack of a Remote Work & BPO Strategy

• The UAE’s OMAC program focused on local job markets, which were not prepared to absorb so many new developers.
• Remote work & outsourcing were not sufficiently emphasized, leaving many graduates jobless despite the global demand for tech talent.

💡 Lesson for Ghana: Ghana must integrate remote work and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) into its coding program. This will allow coders to tap into global tech jobs, reducing dependency on the local job market.

 

How Ghana Can Prevent Market Saturation: Remote Work & BPO Strategy

1. Remote Work: Unlocking Global Opportunities

The U.S. had 700,000+ unfilled tech jobs in 2023. (CompTIA) Europe faces a 500,000+ software developer shortage by 2030. (McKinsey) 💡 Solution: Train Ghanaian coders in: • Cross-border taxation & contract negotiation • International job applications • Remote team collaboration & global work culture

2. Business Process Outsourcing (BPO): The Next Big Opportunity

The Philippines BPO sector employs 1.44 million people and contributes 7.4% to GDP. (Statista) 💡 Solution: Make Ghana a BPO hub for: • QA testing • Cybersecurity monitoring • Software development outsourcing

 

Execution Framework: How to Implement the 1 Million Coders Initiative

1️⃣ Build an Ecosystem, Not Just a Program

Work with existing training institutions to scale what already works.

2️⃣ Expand Beyond Just Coding Include AI, cybersecurity, blockchain, and fintech in the curriculum.

3️⃣ Ensure Private Sector Alignment Tech companies should co-design the curriculum for real-world job alignment.

4️⃣ Promote Remote Work & BPO Government should partner with global remote work platforms. Create tax incentives for BPO investors.

5️⃣ Set Clear Success Metrics How many trained coders get jobs? How many start businesses? How many export digital services?

Final Thoughts: A Balanced Approach for Ghana’s Digital Future

🚀 If executed strategically, Ghana can become a top digital talent hub. If done wrong, it could waste resources and create an oversupply of jobless coders.

📌 How do we ensure remote work and BPO integration become key pillars of this initiative? Let’s collaborate and get it right! 💡 #GhanaTech #FutureOfWork