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PAMEPI Women in Tech Ghana, ComputerLab Ghana, Kangme Yiri Foundation, launches €1.5M digital labs to bridge ICT gap

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PAMEPI Women in Tech Ghana, a dynamic initiative under the Paabinaa Meriga Peace Initiative (PAMEPI), is breaking barriers and building futures by leading the charge to close gender and regional gaps in digital literacy and ICT capacity.

With 17 active student chapters across Ghana’s universities and strong partnerships with RWTH Aachen University (Germany), AmaliTech, and the Swiss Embassy in Ghana, PAMEPI is reshaping the future of tech education, one school at a time.

Recognizing the severe lack of functional and sustainable ICT infrastructure in underserved areas, PAMEPI launched this bold initiative to empower schools and students where it’s needed most.

Project Goals:

• Install over 2,100 computers across selected schools in the northern regions

• Impact more than 31,000 students

• Renovate ICT rooms in partner schools

• Provide teacher training and technical support

• Total Project Value: €1.5+ million

With €300,000 worth of equipment and installations, Phase One officially launched at Business Senior High School (BISCO), Tamale, a historic leap toward digital inclusion in Northern Ghana.

On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the walls of BISCO came alive as history unfolded, not just for the school, but for the entire Northern, Savannah, and Upper West Regions.

The atmosphere buzzed with hope, pride, and the fulfillment of a long-awaited promise: the official launch of the ComputerLabs Ghana Demo Pilot Project, a groundbreaking step toward bridging the digital divide.

The arrival of the Overlord Chief of Tamale and the Tamale Traditional Council added a deeply cultural touch, with rich traditional gestures and protocol setting the tone for the event.

The excitement peaked when Dr Sofo Tanko Rashid, CEO of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), fondly known as “Mr. Computer,” entered to a thunderous standing ovation.

BISCO’s Headmaster expressed heartfelt gratitude, declaring the new lab “a dream come true.” He highlighted the school’s growing population and urged support for more computer labs to meet their digital ambitions.

The new facility features:

• 50 high-speed desktop computers with LED monitors

• 4G internet connectivity

• GES-approved educational software

• Teacher training programs

• Regular maintenance and technical support

Mr Pim de Bokx, General Manager of ComputerLab Ghana, shared the project’s evolution, beginning with operations in Greater Accra.

He emphasized a major national challenge: the lack of sustained technical support in school ICT labs, which hinders meaningful ICT education.

He described the Tamale launch as a pivotal milestone, made possible through strategic collaboration with PAMEPI Women in Tech Ghana and Kangme Yiri Foundation.

He reaffirmed ComputerLab Ghana’s long-term commitment to delivering technical support and ICT empowerment in underserved communities.

Chief Fuseini Yakubu, Executive Director of PAMEPI Women in Tech Ghana, and Songsim Naa of Tamale, shared emotionally:

“We have seen teachers using stones to explain what a computer mouse is. No more. This lab is not just furniture and screens, it is a bridge to dignity and dreams.”

He envisioned a future where girls in Tamale become digital entrepreneurs, students with disabilities learn without barriers, and inclusion fuels innovation.

Dr Sofo Tanko Rashid of GIFEC echoed the government’s commitment to the President’s One Million Coders Vision. To loud applause, he pledged 20 brand-new laptops to BISCO, thrilling students and teachers alike.

The representative of the Regional Director of Education praised the initiative as a model of policy-aligned innovation, urging its expansion across all districts.

The BISCO Board Chairman described the moment as “a generational leap”, affirming that students now have the tools to compete globally.

The PTA Chairman echoed the sentiment, encouraging parents to safeguard the investment and ensure its long-term impact.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Overlord Chief of Tamale, the CEO of GIFEC, and project partners marked a triumphant moment. The message was clear: the future is already here, and it’s being coded in Tamale.

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