Below are step by step instructions for setting up SSH access to an Github git repository

Create SSH key

First create a key via ssh-keygen

cd ~/.ssh
ssh-keygen -f github -t rsa -b 4096

You will be asked for passphrase I’ve had issues with using one with VSCode / Remote WSL so suggest not using one.

A typical output will look like below:

$ ssh-keygen -f github -t rsa -b 4096
Generating public/private rsa key pair.
Enter passphrase (empty for no passphrase): 
Enter same passphrase again: 
Your identification has been saved in codecommit.
Your public key has been saved in codecommit.pub.
The key fingerprint is:
SHA256:1nDTaZZ7vUjfYjxcSwW+OEEpCGUrhcJ8HgShPd+iv+Y stephen@navi
The key's randomart image is:
+---[RSA 4096]----+
|   oo+o++.  ...  |
|   o+ +o...o.+ . |
|  . o+..o o.B . .|
|     o.o + + + o.|
|      o S . +.o.o|
|     . o    .=+.+|
|    .        .*+.|
|     ..      . o |
|     oE.         |
+----[SHA256]-----+

Github Configuration

Now log into your Github account, from the upper-right corner, click your profile photo, then click Settings

Github Settings

Click SSH and GPG keys

Github SSH

Click New SSH Key

Github New SSH key

Copy and Paste your new public ssh key into the window and give it a name :

cat ~/.ssh/github.pub

Github Add SSH key

If prompted confirm your Github password.

Configure -Agent

Check the ssh-agent is running

eval `ssh-agent -s`

if you get a response of Agent pid <number> then its up

Add your new ssh key

ssh-add ~/.ssh/github

If successful you get a message like: Identity added: /home/stephen/.ssh/github (/home/stephen/.ssh/github)