Dr. Peter Anti, Executive Director of the Institute for Education Studies (IFEST), has acknowledged the government’s commitment to funding education but emphasized the need for proper disbursement and accountability.
Speaking on ABC News GH, he commended the government’s decision to ensure sustainable funding for the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, stating, “We are all aware that the most prominent challenge in Senior High Schools is funding. So if the government is deciding to get a sustainable mode of funding for the policy, it’s a good move that we need to applaud them for.”
However, he stressed that commitments alone are not enough and that actual disbursement must be tracked effectively.
His remarks come in response to Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson’s announcement during the 2025 Budget Statement that the government will uncap the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to guarantee steady funding for Free SHS.
Additionally, GH¢499.8 million has been allocated for the ‘No-Fees-Stress’ initiative, which will cover academic fees for first-year students in public tertiary institutions.
While Dr. Anti acknowledged these steps as a demonstration of the government’s dedication to education, he noted that the real impact depends on how efficiently the funds are utilized.
“I think the government has shown commitment to education, but we need to track real disbursement,” he emphasized.
Despite these financial commitments, concerns remain over the sustainability of the policy amid Ghana’s broader economic challenges. Dr. Anti warned that unless inflation is controlled and economic stability maintained, the real value of the funds allocated to education could be eroded. “As the government wants to push monies into the sector, they should also be thinking about reducing the level of inflation and maintaining economic stability,” he advised. Meanwhile, the minority in Parliament has cast doubt on the effectiveness of the government’s plan, arguing that without proper implementation, the funding measures will fail to address the core issues in the education sector.
