Ghana Teacher Richard Appiah Akoto Who Taught MS Word On Blackboard, Gets Computers From Microsoft and Indian Firm NIIT

If you try and search for Richard Appiah Akoto on Facebook, you will see pictures of a man in green T-shirt with a chalk in hand, facing the blackboard and writing something on it while the board already contains a complex but neat looking diagram. The man in the picture is now a world- renowned figure thanks to the social media which got him to the limelight, who till a few weeks back was a teacher in Ghana who had the daunting task of teaching computer/technology to students without any actual computer or desktop. His hard work has now paid off with the Indian multinational company NIIT offering 5 computers to his learning center.

Tech giant Microsoft has also taken note of his work and a spokesperson has said that, “Microsoft is committed to providing a full computer lab with initial support and training to the school and is currently in discussions with the Ministry of Education in Ghana on the most effective way to deliver this.”

According to a report, Akoto teaches at Betenase Municipal Assembly Junior High in the small town of Sekyedomase in Ghana. He had posted pictures of his drawing on the board on Facebook, a neat replica of a complete Microsoft Word window with the message “I love ma students so have to do what will make them understand wat am teaching,” he wrote.

Techcrunch reported Akoto saying, “They have some knowledge about computers, but they don’t know how to actually operate one." Microsoft has offered to provide “device and software support” for the school, and Akoto will also benefit from the training programme of Microsoft.

A lot has been written about the evil of social media but this story highlights the power of networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to do good. Akoto story is a  positive one where a teacher's dedication forced the world to take notice and now help is pouring his way.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 19, 2018 10:40 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).