Pres Commends HAF, FYF for Promoting ICT Education in Ghana

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has applauded the Helping Africa Foundation for building more ultra-modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) laboratories to complement efforts of promoting free quality education for all Ghanaian children.

Helping Africa Foundation and its sister organisation, Friends of Yamoransa Foundation have so far built and commissioned five well- equipped 40-seater ICT laboratories code named "Yamoransa Model Lab" in five different regions to promote free ICT literacy.

Speaking at the official inauguration of the Yamoransa Model Lab 5 at Kyebi in the Abuakwa South Municipality of the Eastern Region, President Akufo-Addo in a speech read for him by the Minister for Works and Housing, Mr Samuel Atta Akyea said his government fully "endorsed and embraced the efforts of Helping Africa Foundation in spreading computer literacy in our schools".

The Yamoransa Model Lab 5 was built at Kyebi through the influence of President Akufo-Addo and it remains the most beautiful and most advanced of all the existing computer labs built by Helping Africa Foundation in Ghana.

It has a MakerSpace specially designed by TECHAiDE, a for-profit social enterprise to help prepare Ghanaian students who need the critical 21st century skills in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

President Akufo-Addo was confident that the promotion of ICT education by the private sector would support and facilitate the government's vision of a digitised Ghana.

Dr Deborah Rose, President of the Friends of Yamoransa Foundation expressed her appreciation to the President for the success of the project to empower students and teachers in their academic work.

"We are proud to work with the Ministry of Education of Ghana to implement its Junior High School (JHS) curriculum for ICT. Because many villages lack reliable electricity, we have always incorporated banks of batteries to provide back-up power for the labs when needed. This year, we have also begun adding solar panels to the package," Dr Rose indicated.

She said that due to the absence of broadband internet service in most rural areas, TECHAiDE had improvised a Made-in-Ghana invention, the "Asanka Device" which functions as a local version of the internet for the ICT labs.

Mr Japhet Aryiku, Executive Director of Helping Africa Foundation said the essential mission of his NGO was working to improve the education, health and social conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially in Ghana.

He said the Kyebi lab was preceded by the Yamoransa Model Lab 4 at Choggu in Tamale, which is the only ICT lab that has Robotics and 3D printing facilities.

The Chief Executive Officer of TECHAiDE, Mr Kafui Prebbie indicated that the new ICT centre has a MakerSpace to help prepare Ghanaian students who need the critical 21st century skills in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The Paramount Chief of Akyem Kwaben, Daasebre Ayimadu Kantamanto II, who represented the Okyehene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin commended the HAF and FYF, and President Akufo-Addo for the project and assured the commitment of the chiefs to sustain the Yamoransa Model Lab 5 in order to benefit more students in the future.

The Abuakwa South Municipal Director of Education, Madam Grace Owusu Addo assured that the GES would collaborate with the Municipal Assembly to ensure that the facility serves the purpose for which it was established.

The Abuakwa South Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Kojo Safo also appreciated the President and financiers of the project and called for massive investment in the study of ICT to enable the young generation to catch up with the rest of the world.

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