The Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has distributed 79 laptops to teachers in the Effutu Constituency under his “One Teacher, One Laptop Initiative” to support technology-enhanced teaching and learning.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony in Winneba, Mr Afenyo-Markin said the initiative was introduced in response to the growing digital demands placed on teachers and not for political reasons.
“This laptop presentation is not a seasonal ritual, and it is certainly not a political calendar that I roll out because a date demands it. The One Teacher, One Laptop Initiative is a personal response when the need genuinely arises,” he said.
According to him, modern teaching extends beyond classroom instruction, with teachers now expected to prepare lesson notes electronically, upload continuous assessment scores onto digital platforms, participate in online professional development programmes, access digital learning resources and communicate through virtual platforms.
He stressed that equipping teachers with digital tools is essential to improving the quality of education.
“A teacher without a laptop today is like a soldier sent to the frontline without a rifle. I cannot ask for excellence, I cannot demand results, but I owe it to our teachers to first arm them with the instruments that excellence requires.”
Mr Afenyo-Markin disclosed that although 100 laptops were procured for the programme, only 79 were distributed because some newly posted teachers had not yet reported to their schools.
“We are distributing 79 today. The remaining 21 teachers are yet to report, and when schools reopen, they will receive theirs. We don’t want to hand them over to third parties.”
The Effutu MP said the initiative is an investment in both teachers and their students, explaining that every laptop provided would improve lesson preparation and classroom delivery for hundreds of learners.
“When I equip a teacher, I do not equip one person. I equip every single pupil who will pass through that teacher’s hands this year and in the years to come.”
Describing teachers as “Ghana’s quiet nation builders,” he commended them for their dedication despite the challenges they face, including inadequate remuneration and the personal sacrifices many make to support their students.
“There is no profession in this country that carries heavier moral weight and receives comparatively lighter material reward than teaching.”
Mr Afenyo-Markin also highlighted Effutu’s long-standing contribution to teacher education, noting that the municipality, home to the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) and several second-cycle institutions, has trained generations of teachers serving across Ghana.
“Effutu does not just consume education; Effutu produces educators for the nation. This is a heritage I am personally committed to protecting, celebrating and continually investing in.”
He reaffirmed his commitment to sustaining the One Teacher, One Laptop Initiative, which began in 2018, for as long as he continues to serve the people of Effutu.
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