Gov’t Channels Over 34% of National Budget into Education – GETFund Board Chair
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
Government has committed more than 34 percent of Ghana’s national budget to education, making it the single largest sectoral allocation and underscoring a renewed push to position human capital development at the centre of the country’s economic transformation agenda.
The Board Chairman of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), Mr. Emmanuel Kwesi Bedzrah, disclosed this at a sod-cutting ceremony for new infrastructure projects at Afife Senior High Technical School (ASSETS) in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region.
Mr. Bedzrah said the scale of funding reflects a deliberate policy choice to prioritise education, particularly technical and vocational training, as the foundation for sustainable growth and job creation.
“This level of spending is not accidental. It is an intentional investment in your future and in the future leadership of this country,” he told students and community members at the ceremony.
With Ghana’s macroeconomic indicators showing signs of stabilisation and renewed investor interest, Mr. Bedzrah stressed that the availability of skilled labour would determine how many young people ultimately benefit from emerging economic opportunities.
“As investors come in, the critical question is whether we have the skills they require. Without the right skills, employment opportunities will simply pass us by,” he cautioned.
The GETFund Board Chair reaffirmed government’s commitment to the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, revealing that approximately 45 percent of GETFund’s current budget is absorbed by the programme alone. He said this significant financial burden has necessitated a more strategic approach to infrastructure development.
As a result, GETFund is prioritising the completion of projects that are at least 75 percent complete, to ensure value for money, avoid abandoned sites and accelerate the delivery of usable facilities.
Mr. Bedzrah also acknowledged persistent challenges linked to inadequate accommodation in some schools, noting that the absence of boarding facilities exposes students, particularly girls, to social risks that can affect academic performance.
Encouraging female students to remain focused, he pointed to the growing presence of women in leadership and public life as evidence of the transformative power of education.
Beyond classrooms, he said government continues to invest in school feeding, sanitation and student welfare infrastructure to improve learning outcomes nationwide.
Mr. Bedzrah expressed optimism that Afife Senior High Technical School could expand its enrolment from about 440 students to over 1,000 once the new facilities are completed, a development he said would stimulate the local economy through job creation and increased commercial activity.
“I am fully committed to supporting efforts to transform this school into one of the best in the district,” he added.
The Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Mr. Eric Edem Agbana, outlined the scope of the GETFund-funded projects, which include two-storey dormitory blocks for boys and girls with staff bungalows, a two-storey administration and library complex, and a 24-seater water-closet toilet facility.
He also announced plans to give the school a distinct identity through land demarcation, landscaping and tree planting, with survey work expected to begin soon.
The Ketu North Municipal Director of Education, Mr. Gerhard Avudzivi, described the projects as a turning point for ASSETS, saying they would transform the school into a fully functional boarding institution with improved supervision, discipline and safety.
For the Afife Traditional Council, the Paramount Chief, Torgbui Adrakpaŋya VI, pledged the community’s full support and expressed confidence that the projects would be completed on schedule and to high standards.
