Former President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the significant financial challenges faced by the Ghana Education Trust (GET) Fund in recent times. Speaking at the Academic City University College, he emphasized the crucial role of education in national development and the need for quality education to unlock the potential of Ghana’s human capital.
Mahama emphasized that development begins with human capital development, and education is the key to unleashing the country’s vast natural resources. He stressed that access to education is not enough; it must be of optimal quality to produce well-equipped human resources that can meet society’s needs.
The former President highlighted the importance of narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor through quality education, which acts as a leveller in society. He pointed out that the Social Democratic tradition of his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has consistently prioritized investing in education. As a part of this commitment, the NDC established the GETFund as a financial supplement to traditional sources of education funding.
However, Mahama regretfully noted that the GETFund has encountered significant financial setbacks in recent times. He urged stakeholders to work together to ensure the fund effectively supports students and institutions in need of financial assistance, regardless of whether they are in private or public schools.
Looking to the future, Mahama underscored the importance of adapting the educational system to the demands of the 21st century digital revolution. He emphasized the need to equip the next generation with critical thinking, creativity, and innovation skills to solve problems and succeed in the modern world.
In the spirit of progress and partnership, the NDC is seeking to collaborate with the private sector to invest three billion dollars in an integrated ICT infrastructure. This investment aims to leverage 5G technology to drive communication, commerce, civil liberties, and individual expression while supporting other national priorities in health, education, agriculture, petroleum, and the power sectors.
Mahama’s vision includes making governance effective, transparent, and accessible through advanced technology. Additionally, the initiative seeks to modernize industry and improve network security while generating sustainable job opportunities in the value chain.
Through these measures, Mahama envisions building the Ghana of the future, where education and technology act as catalysts for inclusive and prosperous national development.