IPMC donates streetlights, ICT labs to support education in rural areas
The Intercom Programming and Manufacturing Company (IPMC) has donated items worth over GH¢1.6 million to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) towards improving education in rural communities.
The items, which include 100 solar streetlights, information and communication technology (ICT) laboratories and other equipment, are expected to enhance access to technology, health care and basic infrastructure in underserved areas.
Presenting the items last Thursday, the Executive Chairman of the IPMC Group, Amar Deep Singh Hari, said the initiative was aimed at supporting communities that played a critical role in the country’s development.
Rural support
He said the intervention, which was supported by the Indian business community in the country, was because more than half of Ghana’s population lived in rural areas where access to infrastructure and services remained limited.
“For those of us living in the cities, it is our moral responsibility to reciprocate what rural communities do for us,” Mr Hari said.
ICT for development
Mr Hari added that the company would establish five ICT laboratories in selected schools as part of the intervention.
He said the facilities would be equipped to teach artificial intelligence and robotics, preparing students for emerging technological trends.
According to him, the ICT centres would also serve the wider community after school hours.
“These facilities will support e-health, e-agriculture and access to government online services such as passport and driving licence applications,” he said.
Lighting communities
Mr Hari said the company pledged to donate 200 solar-powered streetlights, of which 100 had been presented to improve safety and visibility in rural communities.
The lights, he explained, automatically switch on at night and off during the day, making them efficient and suitable for off-grid areas.
Partnership approach
The Administrator of GETFund, Paul Adjei, expressed appreciation to IPMC for the support, describing it as timely and impactful.
He said the donation aligned with GETFund’s efforts to expand educational infrastructure and services across the country.
“We are launching an education financing and partnership initiative to support the rollout of key interventions, including ICT centres and school infrastructure,” he said.
Mr Adjei called for increased collaboration between the government and the private sector to improve education delivery.
“We want to see more ICT centres built and more support systems provided for students across the country,” he said.
