The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has inaugurated the Board of Trustees of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) with a request to them to align the allocation of the fund monies to reflect President John Dramani Mahama’s reset agenda. 

“Necessarily, you have to realign your funding allocation; one, to reflect the President's reset agenda on the education sector, and in particular, the pursuit of policies that guarantee that Ghana will train learners that can live up to the 21st-century competencies, values, and aptitudes,” he said.

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees, with the Ho West Member of Parliament, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, as Chairman, is composed of institutional representatives.

They are Masawudu Mahama, representing the Ministry of Finance; Rev. Dr Cyril Gershon Kwao Fayose, representing the Christian Council; Anthony Kwasi Sarpong from the Revenue Agencies Governing Board; GETFund Administrator, Paul Adjei; Mamle D. Andrews from the Ministry of Education; Professor Ahmed Abdulai Jinapor from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), and Rev. Prof. John Frank Eshun, representing the technical universities.

Others are Philippa Larson of the Ghana National Association of Teachers; Daniel Nii Korley Botchway, representing the Ghana National Union of Polytechnic Students; Grace Amey Obeng from the Association of Ghana Industries: Francisca Atuluk, a female representative from the National Council on Women and Development; Alexander Frimpong from the Ghana Employers’ Association, and Prof. Ernest Kofi Davis from the Ghana Education Service.

The rest are the three representatives of the established financial institutions, namely John Awuah from the Ghana Bankers Association; Seth Kobla Aklasi from the Ghana Insurers Association, and Patience Ablah Ganyo from the National Pensions Regulatory Authority.

Urgency

The minister explained that in the absence of the board, he had to find alternative arrangements to work within the law to ensure that the sector functioned without hitches.

He said President Mahama, in his reset agenda, “has so decided, in his wisdom, with the Minister of Finance, that the GETFund will provide substantial financing for the novel free senior high school (SHS) initiative.

Subject to review

Mr Iddrisu, therefore, gave the assurance that “any decision I have taken is subject to your review and possible ratification”, and urged the board to make consequential resolutions and remedies if they found any reasons to do so.

“Even if I have to walk back to Parliament, let it be under your guidance (that) this is what you believe in, and this is what you deem fit and appropriate,” the minister said.

Mr Iddrisu told the trustees that the decisions taken on the formula for budget allocations were subject to their review, even though it reflected the policy of the President.

He said after the approval of the formula by Parliament, the onerous mandate of approval of expenditure rested on the board of trustees, saying, “Even as I inaugurate you, we have less than 48 hours to satisfy the requirements.

“So, chairman, I urge you and your members to begin your first sitting even after this inauguration because we need immediate approval for the release of at least GHc215 million to the Ghana Education Service and to CHASS (Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools) to provide for feeding for senior high schools across the country,” he added.

Response

The chairman, while thanking the President for the confidence reposed in the board, said members considered “this opportunity not only as a privilege to serve our motherland but most importantly, as a call to duty”.

He expressed concern that gains made by the fund since its establishment experienced a setback during the previous administration, where it was capped, thereby rendering its operation ineffective.

“It, however, came as a great relief when the President, through the Minister of Finance, requested Parliament to uncap the fund, and thankfully, this has been done,” Mr Bedzrah stated.

He called for the amendment of the GETFund law to address the new challenges in the education sector.