By:tntnewspaprgh.com

As part of its commitment to advancing education and digital inclusion in Ghana, the MTN Ghana Foundation has officially commissioned and handed over its second robotics centre in the Ashanti Region.

The new Asafo M/A basic school in the Asokwa Municipality on Thursday, 16th July 2026, joined a growing number of communities across Ghana where the foundation has invested in STEM-ready basic education infrastructure.

The timely gesture received a massive commendation from Nana Fi-Bamoah II, Asokwahene,Mr Amoh Kamel, the Asokwa Municipal Chief Executive (MCE); the Municipal Director of Education; and other stakeholders.

According to them, the robotics centre was a game changer for the learners in the municipality.

A section of students trying their hands on the computers at the Centre

The stakeholders believe that the Centre is expected to benefit about two hundred and seventy pupils of New Asafo M/A Basic School who will henceforth receive hands-on ICT and robotics instruction.

Both the Asokwa Municipal Education Director, Rev. Ebenezer Oteng Marfo, and the Headmaster for New Asafo M/A Basic School, Antwi Gabriel, also added their voices to the commendation of the MTN Ghana Foundation.

Front view of the robotics centre

They promised to do everything within their means to protect the Centre and use it for the purpose for which it was established.

Mr.Amoh Kamel remarked that “this investment is a huge one, and we’re very grateful to MTN Ghana Foundation”.He also commended his predecessor, Mr.Akwannusah Gyimah,for initiating the project.
He said the facility needs to be protected and protected well.To this end, a security man has been recruited, and metal gates have also been done.He also announced that new Asafo basic school has been adopted as a model school within Asokwa Municipality .

The dignitaries in a group photograph with pupils and teachers of New Asafo. M/A Basic School

On his part, Mr Nii Adotey Mingle, the general manager for the Northern business sector, said the official handover represents the Foundation’s broader mission of closing educational gaps and significantly closing the gap between infrastructure and impact, ensuring that access to technology and quality STEM education is not limited by geographical or resource constraints.

According to him, “This event is not merely the unveiling of a refurbished building but the creation of opportunities for young learners to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.

In side the centre

Mr Mingle revealed that the project began in 2022, when the then MTN chief executive officer visited the school as part of their Y’ello Care annual staff volunteer programme and donated laptops to support learning.

Mr Mingle explained that, during that visit, the headmistress raised a concern that stayed with MTN Ghana, the school’s ICT centre, though built as far back as 2017, was not serving its purpose. It had been handed over without any computer or piece of auxiliary equipment inside it.

“There were five trained ICT teachers with knowledge to give, but no tools to give it with. Following that visit, our team, together with Seed Global Consult, conducted a thorough assessment of the facility. Significant deficiencies were identified.

He recounted that the general state of the centre required far more than new computers. It required a complete transformation from the ground up. Recognising the need for intervention, the Foundation committed to a comprehensive refurbishment and equipping of the project.

“I am pleased to report that the work has been completed to a high standard. We have delivered civil work, including roofing repairs, repainting and decoration, and improved security for the facility. We have also carried out full electrical re-cabling and installed new air-conditioning units to make this facility a comfortable learning environment,” he added.

The general manager for the Northern Business District revealed that the project, which cost GHS 946,189.71, was delivered within the approved budget and completed in April 2026.”

According to him, beyond the infrastructure, the centre now houses thirty-five all-in-one computer workstations, refurbished desks and furniture for thirty-five seats, and the feature.

Saying, “I am personally most excited about dedicated robotics training equipment and kits. This is not simply an ICT lab; it is a STEM learning centre that will introduce our pupils to the technologies shaping the world they will inherit.

That is the kind of gap the Foundation was created to close.He said pupils within the Kumasi Metropolis can also access the centre and benefit from robotics and STEM training.

He emphasised that robotics and STEM education are essential for preparing students with future-ready skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving, technology-driven world.

According to him, a functioning ICT and STEM centre does more than teach children to use a computer.

It is expected to help them demystify science and technology at an early age, promote creativity and critical thinking, and serve as a catalyst for innovation while fostering coding and digital literacy skills in interactive ways.

It will also build collaboration, resilience, and problem-solving abilities and inspire students to create local solutions to local challenges. Besides, technology literacy has become an essential component of modern education.

The centre seeks to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical application.