The partnership brings together community-based youth development and digital innovation, with plans for an initial activation in Kumasi.
At the Ghana YMCA, we believe young people deserve opportunities to turn their interests and talents into skills that can shape their futures. That belief guides our partnership with Metro Digital Group to develop Digital Innovation Centres that make technology, creative learning and career development more accessible across Ghana.
The partnership starts with plans for an initial activation in Kumasi. Together, we are developing a model that can reach additional communities, including Accra and Takoradi, as funding, partnerships and local implementation plans take shape.
Our vision for the centres begins with what already excites many young people: gaming, music, esports, content creation and digital media. These interests create inviting ways to explore artificial intelligence, coding, digital production and other practical skills. Through hands-on learning and collaboration, participants can gain the confidence to use technology creatively, solve problems and consider new career paths.
Metro Digital Group brings experience in designing and operating Digital Innovation Centres, along with its technology platform and international partner network. We bring our community presence, local leadership and experience working with young people. Together, we are shaping programmes and spaces that respond to participants’ interests while helping them prepare for opportunities in a changing world.
“This partnership with Metro Digital Group is an exciting step forward for the young people we serve. At YMCA Ghana, we believe in meeting youth where they are — and for today’s generation, that means through gaming, music, content creation and digital media. By combining Metro’s Digital Innovation Center model with our community presence, we can open clear pathways into AI learning, digital skills, certification programs and real career opportunities. Our goal is to help young people in Accra , Kumasi and across Ghana move from being consumers of technology to becoming confident creators and future leaders. We look forward to building this together.”
— George Dela Coffie, President, YMCA Ghana.”
From digital interests to real-world skills
A young person’s interest in gaming can spark curiosity about how games are designed. A passion for music can lead to learning about sound production and digital media. Creating videos can build skills in storytelling, editing and teamwork. The Digital Innovation Centre model creates room for these connections, allowing participants to explore their interests and discover where they might lead.
The centres are intended to offer more than access to equipment. We are working with Metro Digital Group to develop learning programmes, technology infrastructure, certification opportunities and career-focused experiences. Our shared aim is to create environments where young people can practise new skills, work with others and see themselves as creators and future professionals.
We also see opportunities for learning across generations. Digital skills matter to adults seeking to develop their careers or adapt to new ways of working. As programmes take shape, the centres can provide spaces where people of different ages learn, create and share ideas.
Connecting local talent to a wider world
The partnership also opens possibilities for young people in Ghana to connect with peers beyond their immediate communities. Metro Digital Group envisions shared gaming competitions, creator challenges, media projects and virtual collaborations linking participants in Ghana with communities in other countries.
These experiences can give young people practical reasons to communicate, collaborate and create across borders. They can help participants develop technical ability while strengthening teamwork, confidence and an appreciation of different perspectives.
“Ghana has extraordinary talent in gaming, music, art and digital content creation,” says Shaon Berry, Founder and CEO of Metro Digital Group. He describes the partnership as an opportunity to build spaces where people can “play, learn, create and compete” with peers across borders.
Building a lasting model
We are approaching this partnership with a long-term vision. Alongside Metro Digital Group, we are engaging potential technology, educational, corporate and philanthropic partners who share our commitment to accessible learning and youth opportunity. Their support can help shape the initial Kumasi activation and inform plans for future centres.
As this work progresses, our focus remains on the young people and communities the centres are designed to serve. We want participants to enter through something they enjoy, discover abilities they may not yet recognise, and gain skills and connections that support their next steps.
Through this partnership, the Ghana YMCA continues to create opportunities for young people to learn, lead and thrive. We look forward to working with Metro Digital Group and local partners to turn this shared vision into welcoming, practical spaces for digital innovation in Ghana.
