Addis Ababa: Ghana leads Africa’s charge for teacher quality at Innovation Africa 2025

Ghana’s bold education reforms took center stage at the Innovation Africa 2025 summit at Addis Ababa-Ethiopia, as Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Apaak, detailed sweeping initiatives to professionalize teaching across the continent.

Speaking during a panel discussion on the theme “Ensuring the Professional Development of Quality Teachers to Deliver Curriculum Reform in Africa,” Dr. Apaak highlighted Ghana’s aggressive pursuit of excellence in teacher education. Central to these efforts are reforms in Initial Teacher Education (ITE), with all Colleges of Education now offering a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) program aligned with national curriculum reforms.

To address inequalities in education access, the government has deployed a teacher deployment and retention policy offering allowances, housing, and mentorship opportunities for educators working in underserved communities.

“Incentivizing, training, and supporting our teachers is at the heart of Ghana’s education transformation,” Dr. Apaak asserted.

Additionally, Ghana is championing cross-border collaboration by promoting inter-country teacher exchange programs under ECOWAS and African Union frameworks, making digital resources freely available, and actively participating in continental teacher development platforms like the African Union’s CESA Cluster.

“Our vision extends beyond Ghana. We believe in sharing resources, strategies, and successes with our brothers and sisters across Africa,” Dr. Apaak said, reinforcing Ghana’s commitment to continental cooperation.
Innovation Africa 2025, held in Addis Ababa, has become the premier platform for education leaders to drive change through innovation, partnerships, and policy.

Innovation Africa 2025 of the African ministerial summit for education, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), and Skills kicked off on 28th April 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The opening ceremony was graced by Temesgen Tiruneh, the Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia. The three-day summit, themed “Educate and Skill Africa for the 21st Century,” has convened delegations including ministers and professionals from across the continent.