MEST Africa and Mastercard Foundation launch second cohort of EdTech fellowship in Ghana

On April 16, 2025, MEST Africa, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, celebrated the launch of the second cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra, Ghana.

This six-month entrepreneurship acceleration program welcomed 12 innovative EdTech companies poised to transform education across Ghana by addressing critical learning challenges with technology-driven solutions.

The second cohort builds on the success of the first, whose 12 EdTech companies impacted over 136,798 learners during their acceleration period, underscoring the Fellowship’s ability to drive transformative change. This sets the stage for the 2025 cohort to further advance inclusive and equitable education in Ghana.

Greg Cousa, Strategic Director for MEST Africa in his welcome address commended the remarkable performance of the Fellowship in investing and supporting innovative ideas to improve STEM education across Africa, saying, “We are creating a pathway of high potential Edtech ventures to grow, scale and most importantly, change learning outcomes for the better.”

In a keynote address read on behalf of the Minister for Education, Hon Haruna Iddrisu, by Prof. George K.T. Oduro, Technical Advisor to the Minister, praised the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship for aligning with the Ministry’s vision of fostering problem-solving, creativity, and critical skills through STEM and innovation-oriented education.

He noted the Ministry’s efforts to integrate technology into the curriculum and expand STEM access, while candidly addressing challenges like insufficient power, unstable internet, and rural-urban disparities.

Prof. Oduro lauded the Fellowship’s support for local entrepreneurs tackling these issues, urging collaboration among innovators, educators, and stakeholders to drive EdTech’s potential.

He inspired the fellows, saying, “You are not just building apps; you are shaping the way a generation learns.”

The Mastercard Foundation is dedicated to empowering underserved learners, particularly out-of-school youth, through EdTech innovation. Suraj Shah, Head of Strategic Partnerships & Thought Leadership at the Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning, highlighted the partnership’s crucial role in scaling solutions that prioritise end users.

Rodwell Mangisi, Acting Director of the Centre, emphasised the Centre’s mission to strengthen the African EdTech ecosystem via the Young Africa Works strategy.

He proudly noted that the program has accelerated over 140 fellows since its inception, showcasing technology’s potential to transform lives when designed with purpose. Mangisi expressed optimism about collaborating with tech hub partners to create scalable, sustainable solutions that improve learning outcomes for millions across Africa.

A highlight of the launch event was an EdTech Mondays panel discussion titled "Breaking Barriers: EdTech's Role in Creating Inclusive Classrooms for All." This session brought together experts to explore how technology can foster equitable learning environments across Ghana and beyond.

The panellists included Farida N. Bedwei, a Software Engineer, Disability Rights Advocate, and Author; Dr. Marilyn Marbell-Wilson, a Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician and Medical Director & CEO of Mission Pediatrics; Mrs. Helena Mensah, the Acting Director of the Special Education Division (SpED) at the Ghana Education Service (GES); and Mrs. Sabina Moses, a Parent.

They shared valuable insights on the challenges and opportunities of implementing inclusive EdTech solutions.

Key takeaways included the importance of user-centred design to meet diverse learner needs, the necessity of collaboration between educators, technologists, and health professionals, and the critical need to address infrastructure gaps—such as limited internet access or device availability, to ensure all students can benefit from these innovations.

Dignitaries at the event included HRM, Nii Nortey Owuo IV, the President of the Osu Council, who called on traditional leaders to support the Foundation’s vision and help bring it to life within their respective communities.

He acknowledged that the traditional leaders of the land, including himself, have not put in enough effort to aid the smooth flow of STEM education in their communities.

He urged traditional rulers to get involved since they all had a role to play in making the Fellowship’s vision a success.