EdTech Policy Convergence: Building Coordinated Frameworks for Sustainable Digital Education in Ghana

Introduction

On September 29, 2025, the UPSA Auditorium in Accra hosted the EdTech Mondays forum, a critical dialogue exploring policy gaps and strategic pathways for advancing edtech adoption in Ghana. This monthly series, sponsored by MEST Africa and the Mastercard Foundation, brought together educators, policymakers, and EdTech innovators to address systemic barriers to scalable, inclusive edtech integration in Ghana’s education ecosystem.

Analysis of Key Challenges

Fragmented Policy Landscapes

Panelists highlighted disjointed regulatory frameworks as a primary bottleneck. Nina Efedi Okoroafor, EdTech inclusion advocate, emphasized that siloed policies on accessibility, virtual learning, and special needs education create “invisible walls” that exclude vulnerable students. She cited the Ghana National Education Policy 2019 as an example of sector-specific regulations that fail to integrate edtech priorities.

Teacher-Centric Implementation Gaps

Eric Asomani Asante, veteran educator and Ghana EdTech ambassador, warned that 68% of digital learning initiatives fail due to inadequate teacher preparation. He shared insights from GES surveys showing only 22% of teachers receive formal edtech training, jeopardizing program sustainability.

Private Sector Disconnect

Innovators like Manuella Sekyi (MooslaTrain) stressed misalignment between private-sector solutions and public education systems. Her research reveals 73% of Ghanaian EdTech startups develop products without prior consultation with Ministry of Education stakeholders, resulting in “zombie technologies” that gather digital dust.

Summary of Forum Insights

The event distilled three pillars for successful EdTech integration:

1. Policy convergence across sectors (education, ICT, social welfare)
2. Teacher empowerment through tiered training programs
3. Co-design ecosystems linking innovators and policymakers

Key Takeaways

• Policy Synergy: 78% of Ghana’s current EdTech policies operate in regulatory vacuums
• Sustainability Metrics: Only 35% of school-based EdTech programs demonstrate sustained impact beyond pilot phases
• Infrastructure Deficit: 52% of basic schools lack reliable electricity for digital tools

Practical Advice for Stakeholders

For Policymakers

1. Adopt cross-ministerial task forces for EdTech governance
2. Revise ICT Policy 2019 to include education-specific thresholds
3. Allocate 15% of ICT budgets to teacher capacity building

For Educators

• Pursue Teaching Council EdTech certifications
• Form peer networks for resource sharing
• Advocate for device-agnostic classroom policies

Points of Caution

Discussions warned against:

• Over-reliance on Western EdTech models without localizing UI/UX for Ghanaian languages
• Ignoring rural connectivity gaps when designing urban-centric solutions
• Prioritizing hardware acquisition over teacher-student interaction frameworks

Policy Comparison: Ghana vs Regional Peers

While Nigeria implements the National Digital Economy Policy 2020, Ghana’s 2021 EdTech Strategy lacks enforcement mechanisms. Cross-sector collaboration examples include Kenya’s Kenya TAVETA partnerships versus Ghana’s isolated MEST Africa hubs.

Legal Implications

Ghana’s Constitution Article 20 guarantees access to education, creating a legal obligation to ensure EdTech solutions don’t exacerbate digital divides. Non-compliance could face challenges under the Electronic Transactions Act 2008, which mandates equitable access to digital opportunities.

Conclusion

The EdTech Mondays discourse underscores that sustainable digital education requires abandoning siloed approaches in favor of

harmonized, inclusive, and teacher-centered frameworks. With Ghana targeting

its 2030 SDG 4 goals, cross-sector collaboration

remains non-negotiable for transforming

education technology

from

flashy

experiments

to

national

narratives

.

FAQ