Farida Nana Efua Bedwei is a Ghanaian software engineer who advocates for disability rights. At just one year old, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and at the age of nine, she and her family moved to Ghana from Lagos, Nigeria. While many children attended school, Bedwei was homeschooled until she turned twelve. It was during this time that she became fascinated with computers.
When she was fifteen, she enrolled in a computer course at St. Michael Information Technology Centre, skipping high school. The tech enthusiast later pursued a BSc in Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire and earned a Project Management Professional Certificate from GIMPA.
After completing her studies, she started her professional journey at Soft Company Ltd (now Softtribe). Soon, she moved on to Rancard Solutions Ltd as a Senior Software Architect, where she worked on significant projects like developing a content management system for the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice in Ghana.
In 2011, she co-founded Logiciel Ltd., where she played a key role in creating gKudi, a cloud-based banking software suite tailored to Ghana’s microfinance institutions. Today, over 130 microfinance institutions rely on gKudi to manage their operations efficiently.
Founding Logiciel
Logiciel Ghana makes finance simpler, smarter, and more accessible for businesses and communities. They create intelligent software solutions that help companies, banks, and governments work more efficiently. The flagship platform, MESH, powers financial institutions, e-commerce businesses, and government agencies across Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Additionally, their Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform helps Fintechs, Microfinance, Microcredit, and Susu institutions manage banking operations easily and securely.
Logiciel has supported over 1.5 million small businesses and helped process over $50 million in loans and grants. They have powered 160+ microbanks, delivered over 10 government technology projects, and partnered with about 4 international organisations to drive financial inclusion and digital transformation in Ghana.
Beyond her technical achievements, Farida Bedwei passionately advocates for people with disabilities. In 2018, she authored ‘Definition of a Miracle’’, sharing her life story and experiences growing up with cerebral palsy.
Farida Bedwei has received numerous accolades for her work in technology and advocacy, including a Special Award from Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El SISI at the World Youth Forum in 2018. She was also recognised as one of Ghana’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government. She has proven that children with disabilities can still achieve greatness regardless of their circumstances.
