The Digital Access to Rural Empowerment (DARE) Program has marked a major milestone in the Northern Region with the successful graduation of 200 young women and mothers in Gushegu, following days of intensive training in digital literacy, entrepreneurship, communication, and leadership skills.
The graduation ceremony, held in Gushegu, celebrated the progress and transformation of the participants, many of whom enrolled with little to no digital skills but completed the program equipped with competencies that position them for improved livelihoods and economic independence.
Implemented by GI-KACE Consult Ltd in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, UNESCO, and the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), the DARE Program is designed to empower young women aged 15 to 35 across rural communities in Ghana by bridging the digital skills gap and connecting participants to emerging job pathways.
A National Impact Across Three Communities
The Gushegu cohort is part of a larger nationwide effort that has already delivered life-changing training to young women in Somanya (Yilo-Krobo Municipality) and Bekwai (Ashanti Region) areas where digital exclusion has long hindered economic growth.
In Somanya and Bekwai, participants have similarly benefited from a holistic curriculum that includes training in digital tools, online business management, branding using artificial intelligence, customer engagement, and entrepreneurship.
These centers have produced success stories ranging from small-scale digital marketers and aggregators to young mothers launching their own online businesses.
The addition of Gushegu’s 200 graduates brings the total number of rural women empowered under DARE to more than 300 across the three communities, showcasing the program’s expanding footprint and its growing influence in transforming rural livelihoods through technology-driven education.
Transforming Lives Through Skills and Opportunity
During the training, participants were introduced to practical job pathways such as digital marketing, customer service and virtual assistance, local business aggregation, and artisan enhancement. These pathways were designed to match the real needs of rural economies while giving young women access to nationwide and remote job opportunities.
The DARE curriculum also included real-world market activation exercises where trainees engaged directly with local businesses, tested their digital services, gathered customer feedback, and gained confidence by applying their new skills in practical settings.
Many graduates shared powerful testimonies of the program’s impact:
“Before DARE, I had never used a computer. Now I can design flyers, market products online, and support small businesses in my area,” said one participant.
“DARE gave me confidence, and now I know I can build something for myself,” another added.
A Future Built on Digital Empowerment
The program’s project coordinator, Mr. Fredrick Yeboah, emphasized that the success of the Gushegu graduates demonstrates the transformative potential of community-based digital training when matched with mentorship and strong partnerships.
As Ghana accelerates its digital transformation agenda, the DARE Program stands as a practical model for equipping rural populations especially women with the tools and confidence needed to thrive in the modern economy.
With successful outcomes already recorded in Gushegu, Bekwai, and Somanya, the program is poised to scale further, expanding its impact and deepening digital inclusion across more rural districts.
