The May 2025 edition of EdTech Mondays, hosted by Bernard Avle and powered by MEST Africa in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, was a compelling conversation that delved deep into a timely issue: how we can balance innovation with regulation in Ghana’s evolving EdTech space.

With Ghana’s EdTech sector growing rapidly, thanks to increased mobile access, digital skills programs, and supportive ecosystem players, this month’s discussion could not have come at a better time. The conversation brought together four dynamic voices shaping the space:

Kweyakie Afi Blebo, Co-founder of Because She Can; Anthoinet Ohene Amoah, Co-founder of STEM Inclusion Ghana; Precious Mmiba Tidogo-Asampoah, Communications Lead at Maxim Nyansa Foundation; and Kwame Nyatuame, President of the Ghana EdTech Alliance.

What Does EdTech Mean?

Kweyakie Blebo offered a grounded definition of EdTech that served as a powerful point in the conversation. “For a person who has a thriving offline business that is trying to go online, EdTech to this person is teaching them to use social media, how to leverage websites, etc.

Understanding this perspective helps with regulation and policy.” Her point highlighted the need to contextualize innovation—not every solution has to be high-tech to be effective.

Her statement resonated with the growing push for inclusive, user-centered innovation, especially in rural and underserved communities. This tied directly into a powerful call from Precious Tidogo-Asampoah, who emphasized that “we need empathy and should factor everyone in the conversation, especially people in the rural communities, when creating regulations for innovations in EdTech.”

Why Regulation Matters, But Needs a Human Touch

The word “regulation” can often feel rigid or restrictive, but this month’s panel helped reframe that perception. “When you're dealing with innovators, you need to let them understand that compliance is not just rules,” Kweyakie added. “It’s for their safety and for the customers they are providing solutions for.”

This sentiment was echoed by the show’s moderator, Bernard Avle, who noted that “regulation is there to streamline innovation as we create innovative solutions for products.” That reframing—seeing regulation not as a barrier but a tool—was one of the biggest takeaways from the session.

Still, the discussion acknowledged that the reality is not always so smooth. Anthoinet Ohene Amoah shared that “the government’s bureaucratic red tape that you have to go through to get approvals is sometimes so tedious that it frustrates people interested in making change.” She also highlighted the stark effect this has had on public confidence in the system, saying, “Parents are switching their kids to private schools from government schools because the approval processes in government schools sometimes take up to a year.”

Building a Future Where Innovation Thrives

Despite these challenges, the mood was one of hope and determination. Kwame Nyatuame underscored the importance of systemic thinking, stating, “We need to get to a point where we can adequately integrate technology in classrooms to improve learning outcomes and education delivery overall.”

He was quick to highlight the role of collaboration, applauding initiatives like the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, which he said “has put a floodlight on the EdTech sector”. He acknowledged that education remains the foundation for transforming societies: “If we all agree that education is the catalyst to empower our human resources to help build the nation, then we would be on the lookout to find technology to speed up the process and deliver quality.”

The Road Ahead

The conversation ended with a shared sense of urgency and commitment. “There is some work being done in terms of putting together frameworks to guide innovators in the space,” Kwame noted. And those frameworks must be inclusive, data-informed, and flexible enough to adapt to the ever-evolving nature of tech and education.

In a world where innovation outpaces legislation, EdTech Mondays continues to be a space where necessary conversations unfold—where policymakers, developers, educators, and funders come together to imagine and build a better system.

Stay tuned for next month’s episode of EdTech Mondays and don’t forget you can always re-watch the full show on MEST Africa’s YouTube and Facebook pages.