Accra, Ghana – May 22, 2025
Spring-UP Global Network (SUGN) paid a courtesy call on the Ghana Commission for UNESCO to formally welcome the new Secretary-General, Dr. Osman D. Tahidu, and reinforce its commitment to collaborative efforts in advancing education in Ghana. The meeting served as a platform to brief the Commission on SUGN’s key programme areas and explore avenues for deeper partnership.
During the engagement, SUGN’s Executive Director, Akorfa Ama Akoto, highlighted the organization’s flagship initiative—the iRead iLead Campaign. Since its inception in 2020, the campaign has successfully established 10 libraries across five regions in Ghana, stocked with over 10,000 books, the majority of which are authored by African writers. This initiative has positively impacted the lives of more than 24,000 children, fostering a culture of reading and learning.
The discussions centered on the upcoming second phase of the iRead iLead Campaign, which aims to nurture learners’ creative skills and demystify STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education through activity-based literature and hands-on STEM programmes at the pre-tertiary level. SUGN is seeking technical assistance and training support to scale this innovative approach.
The Ghana Commission for UNESCO commended SUGN’s impactful work and reaffirmed its dedication to cultivating a strong partnership that supports modern, inclusive education in Ghana and the broader region.
Also present at the meeting were Dr. Naazia Ibrahim (Deputy Secretary-General, Gen. Operations, NatCom), Moses Gemeh (Programme Officer-Education, NatCom), Eric Kwesi Oppong (Lead, Partnerships and Fundraising, SUGN), Benedicta Owusu (Administrative Officer, SUGN), and Zachariah Bandiibu (Finance Lead, SUGN).
This strategic engagement marks a significant step forward in SUGN’s mission to empower young minds and transform education through literacy and STEM innovation.
