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How rural Ghana is quietly embracing digital lifestyle
Not too long ago, almost every home in rural Ghana had one familiar piece of furniture that brought the entire family together to watch the bulky ‘box television.’
It was more than an electronic appliance. It was where families watched Black Stars matches, boxing fights, Independence Day parades, election results, Sunday movies and evening news together.
It created memories that many still cherish today.
However, a quiet transformation is taking place.
Across villages and small towns, the once-popular box televisions are gradually disappearing, replaced by slim flat-screen televisions that are changing the way families access information, education and entertainment.
For many households, owning a flat-screen television is no longer considered a luxury but a sign of changing times and improving living standards.
Several residents say modern televisions offer clearer pictures, consume less electricity and occupy less space, making them attractive to families looking to upgrade their homes.
Parents also appreciate the educational opportunities they provide, with children now able to watch documentaries, science programmes, educational channels and news from around the world.
“Television has become another classroom,” remarked one teacher, explaining that many pupils now discuss programmes they watched at home during classroom lessons.
The shift is also changing the fortunes of local electronics repair technicians.
For years, repairing box televisions provided steady income for artisans in many communities. Today, however, repair shops receive fewer of the old television sets as more households choose to replace them with newer models instead of repairing ageing equipment.
While some technicians have adapted by learning to repair flat-screen televisions, others say the transition has required them to acquire new skills and equipment to remain in business.
The increasing replacement of older televisions has also created another challenge.
In many communities, obsolete box televisions are now stored in bedrooms, left on verandas or abandoned on family compounds because owners are unsure how to dispose of them safely.
Although these old sets may no longer serve their original purpose, many families are reluctant to part with them because they carry sentimental value and memories of years spent together.
Beyond entertainment, the growing popularity of modern television reflects broader changes taking place across rural Ghana.
Improved access to electricity, expanding digital television services and the increasing availability of affordable consumer electronics are helping bridge the information gap between rural and urban communities.
Families now have easier access to educational programmes, agricultural information, health campaigns, business news and current affairs from across the country and beyond.
Community leaders believe these developments are gradually transforming the way rural people learn, communicate and interact with the wider world.
As more households embrace modern technology, there is also growing recognition of the need to find practical ways of managing obsolete electronic devices to keep communities clean while protecting the environment.
For many older residents, however, the familiar box television will always hold a special place in their hearts.
It reminds them of simpler times when the entire family gathered around one screen, sharing laughter, excitement and unforgettable national moments.
The television may have changed, but one tradition remains unchanged—the joy of families coming together at the end of the day.
That, perhaps is the real story behind Ghana’s quiet digital revolution.
By Geoffrey Buta
ODORGONNO Senior High School (SHS) has won the maiden 2026 Senior High School Plastic Waste Reuse Innovation Awards, organised among five SHSs in Accra to promote plastic waste recycling and reuse.
Odorgonno SHS received a cash prize of GH¢8,000 after securing 97 points. Accra Senior High School placed second with 96 points and received GH¢4,000, while O’Reilly SHS placed third with 90 points and received GH¢2,000.
Forces Senior High Technical School placed fourth with 83 points, while St John’s Grammar SHS came fifth with 72 points. Both schools received GH¢1,000 each as cash prizes.
Outstanding students from the participating school clubs were also recognised with gold medals and certificates. St John’s Grammar SHS received five plastic recovery cages as the school with the highest volume of recovered plastic waste.
The awards formed part of the CSIR-Institute of Industrial Research (CSIR-IIR) Schools Plastics Recovery Project, an initiative aimed at promoting plastic waste recovery, responsible environmental practices and the productive use of recovered materials.
The project included educational campaigns in all five participating schools, the provision of metal cages for plastic source segregation, an educational excursion to a Miniplast recycling factory and a plastics challenge that encouraged innovative reuse of plastic waste.
The Project Lead and Senior Research Scientist at CSIR-IIR, Dr Boniface Yeboah Antwi, said the project demonstrated how young people could become active contributors to solving Ghana’s environmental challenges while providing financial incentives to sustain their efforts.
He said when schools generated income from recovered materials, they could support the maintenance of collection infrastructure, reinforce responsible waste management and instil an entrepreneurial mindset in students.
Dr Antwi explained that within the first month, the participating schools recovered 1.5 tonnes, or 1,500 kilogrammes, of plastic waste—equivalent to the weight of approximately 15,000 one-litre water bottles.
He said the recovery generated GH¢2,000 in revenue for the schools, demonstrating that plastic waste could become a source of value rather than an environmental burden.
The Group Head of General Operations at OmniBSIC Bank, Mr Dominic Donkoh, urged the participating schools to sustain their plastic waste segregation, collection and sales activities.
He said the proceeds could support school environmental clubs and other worthwhile initiatives while providing students with practical lessons in saving, budgeting and responsible financial management.
“We encourage students to apply the financial literacy lessons acquired during this engagement. Learn to manage the proceeds from your recycling activities responsibly, appreciate the importance of saving, and explore innovative ways to create both environmental and financial value,” he added.
–GNA
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Parents have been urged to prioritise girls’ education over early marriage to protect them from losing their childhood, education and opportunities for a better future.
The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Girl Child Coordinator, Madam Margaret Blay, said child marriage disrupted girls’ education, threatened their health and well-being, and limited their ability to realise their full potential.
“Keep her in school, not in a man’s house,” she urged parents, stressing the need for families and communities to protect girls’ right to education and personal development.
She made the call in a welcome address at the 2026 celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, held under the theme: “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights.”
Madam Blay said ending child marriage required collective action from parents, teachers, traditional leaders, government institutions and communities to ensure that girls were protected and given the opportunity to pursue their aspirations.
She noted that child marriage often forced girls out of school before they were physically, emotionally and socially prepared for the responsibilities associated with marriage.
She said investing in girls’ rights was not merely a moral obligation but also an investment in the future of communities and the nation.
According to her, girls who remained in school, had their voices heard and received the necessary support could grow into leaders, professionals, innovators and active contributors to national development.
Madam Blay called on teachers to protect girls’ access to education, create supportive learning environments and empower them to express themselves confidently.
She also appealed to traditional leaders to help address harmful cultural practices and social norms that denied girls opportunities to develop their potential.
The government and relevant institutions, she said, must strengthen the enforcement of child protection laws to ensure that every girl received adequate protection.
She further urged communities to speak out against child marriage, report cases and work together to create safe environments where girls could learn, grow and thrive.
Madam Blay said every girl deserved the freedom to dream, acquire an education and determine her own future.
She expressed the hope that the celebration would strengthen stakeholders’ collective resolve to end child marriage and invest in the rights, education and future of every girl.
Madam Karen Ama Moses, Assembly Member for the Takoradi Railway and Harbour Electoral Area, said keeping girls in school would lead to enlightened mothers, well-informed families, resilient communities and, ultimately, a better Ghana.
She stressed that no child should be forced into marriage, adding that “every child must have the freedom to learn, grow, dream and choose her future.”
Some of the schoolchildren expressed concern that their parents did not always listen to their concerns during difficult times, while others said some children were exposed to abuse and early marriage.
Madam Henrietta Quabu, the Metropolitan School Health Coordinator, urged children experiencing abuse or any situation that threatened their well-being to report to the police, the Department of Social Welfare, the media, their teachers or the Metropolitan Education Directorate for assistance.
— GNA
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