Every child must have access to educational infrastructure – Volta Regional Minister

The Volta Regional Minister, Hon. James Gunu, has emphasised that every child deserves access to quality educational infrastructure and opportunities that support effective learning.

He made the statement at a dinner held in Ho to honour Ginhee Rancourt, Founder of Our Future Prize, and Haneen Khalaf, Director of Global Business Development at Learning Upgrade. The two are partnering with Starlink for Good to enhance digital access in schools across the Volta and Oti Regions.

The collaboration, coordinated by Friends of Adaklu, an NGO based in the Adaklu District, has already connected 40 schools to Starlink’s high-speed internet under the theme “Connect the Unconnected.” The initiative seeks to bridge the digital divide and make learning more engaging and accessible for children in rural communities.

Hon. Gunu underscored that modern education extends beyond classrooms and textbooks. “Whether you are in academia or developing skills, you need to be connected to the world. Knowledge transfer is key, and we need internet infrastructure to do this,” he said.

He acknowledged Ghana’s progress in expanding educational access but noted that more investment is needed to ensure every child benefits, especially at the basic level. The new digital initiative, he said, will strengthen the foundation of learning as the government expands free education across all levels.

The minister also revealed that persons with disabilities are benefiting from fee waivers at universities, adding that digital literacy is essential to ensure fairness and inclusion.

He commended the visiting delegation for choosing the Volta Region, describing their collaboration as a testament to the region’s growing importance in Ghana’s digital transformation. “With Starlink’s platform, teaching and learning will become stress-free for our young people. Together, we are being the light for the next generation,” he said.

Hon. Gunu further highlighted education’s role in empowering young girls, noting that improved internet access will expose them to global opportunities and inspire them to pursue higher education and professional careers.

Beyond formal education, he said digital connectivity will also benefit the agriculture sector, which employs about 60 percent of the region’s population. Farmers can now access markets, share ideas, and adopt modern technologies to boost productivity.

“Without the internet, communities risk living in the dark,” he warned. “By connecting schools to Starlink, we are taking a major step towards sustainable development and inclusion in the global economy.”

He also urged the delegation to explore the Volta Region’s rich cultural and natural attractions, describing it as one of the most beautiful and promising parts of Ghana.

Ginhee Rancourt of Our Future Prize said the initiative’s goal is to give young people “the light and tools to learn, play, and pursue their dreams.” She noted that each Starlink device provided comes with two terabytes of data — enough to support more than 200 devices — and that sustainability plans are in place to allow communities to share school Wi-Fi access for a small fee to maintain the service beyond the first year.

Haneen Khalaf of Learning Upgrade said her focus is on connecting education to decent work opportunities. She explained that similar programmes in countries like Malawi are already linking students to online jobs and expressed optimism that the Volta Region could achieve the same results.

Robert Tornu, Policy Director at Friends of Adaklu, noted that access to high-speed internet will help students build employable digital skills, enabling them to compete effectively in the global job market. “In this digital age, where artificial intelligence and technology drive progress, our children must be tech-savvy to shape their own future,” he said.

Volta Regional Minister, Hon James Gunu in a photograph with Haneen Khalaf (Immediate right) Augustus Awiti - Director of the VRCC (2nd Right), Followed by Robert Tornu.

On the his right hand side, Gihnee Rancourt, followed by Stella Kudah and Chrisly Dan (Executive Director of Networld Internet Services)