Akufo-Addo Emphasizes the Importance of Sustaining Progress in Ghana's Education System

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged Ghanaians to ensure that the advancements made in the country’s educational system are preserved and further strengthened. He stressed that his administration views the development of human capital as the key driver of national growth and has prioritized education as the “cornerstone” of his government.

During a thank-you tour in the Volta Region, the President, who introduced the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, emphasized the importance of maintaining the country’s educational progress. Addressing the OLA Senior High School, Akufo-Addo reflected on his time in office, saying, “I have prioritized education development as the cornerstone of my government.” He drew parallels between Ghana’s education system and those of other successful nations in Asia, Western Europe, and the United States, stating that the foundation of their prosperity lies in the establishment of modern education systems. “In all the successful nations of the world, the fundamental pillar of their development has been the organization of a modern educational system,” he remarked.

Akufo-Addo went on to explain that a nation’s wealth is not determined solely by its natural resources but by the quality of its people. “It is the development of human capital that is the game changer,” he said, underscoring the need for a strong focus on education to unleash the country’s full potential. He pointed out that Ghana, despite its rich natural resources, has not reached its full economic potential because human capital development has not been sufficiently prioritized.

He also defended the 12 billion cedis spent on the Free SHS programme, asserting that the policy has been a worthwhile investment that ended the wastage of human resources. Since the policy’s introduction in 2017, 5.7 million young Ghanaians have benefited from the programme, and the senior high school enrollment has grown from 800,000 to 1.6 million students. The initiative has also led to improvements in access to education, particularly in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.

Akufo-Addo also highlighted the improvements in tertiary education, citing plans for a comprehensive tertiary education masterplan aimed at increasing the gross tertiary enrollment ratio from the current 18% to 40% by 2030. This effort is part of his broader vision to ensure that Ghana’s education system can meet the demands of the 21st century.

As the country approaches the general election, Akufo-Addo urged voters to keep the continuity of Ghana’s educational advancements in mind when casting their ballots. “These reforms have been made to prepare this country to successfully face the challenges of the 21st century,” he said. He emphasized that Ghana must continue to develop its educational system in order to compete globally. “We cannot continue to be at the bottom of the ladder. We have to make a determined effort to reach the top, and that cannot happen unless we get our educational system right,” he added.

The President also called on Ghanaians to choose a successor who will ensure that the gains made in education are not only preserved but expanded. “Who is the person who will succeed me and ensure that the gains we have made in education are consolidated and sustained?” he asked. Akufo-Addo also stressed the importance of leadership in tackling the challenges posed by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He called for a leader capable of steering Ghana toward success in the rapidly changing global landscape.

In addition to his remarks on education, the President highlighted his administration’s accomplishments in other sectors, including health, agriculture, and infrastructure. He urged Ghanaians to support Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, as the candidate who can continue to drive the nation’s progress. Akufo-Addo praised Dr. Bawumia’s intelligence, integrity, and dedication to the nation, saying, “In these 16 years that I have worked with Dr. Bawumia, I have not had one single doubt in his quality.”

Akufo-Addo concluded by urging Ghanaians to consider the long-term future of the country when making their decision. “At the same time, we have to think of the long-term future of our country and choose the right man,” he said. He expressed his full confidence in Dr. Bawumia’s ability to lead Ghana to greater heights.