The Administrator of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), Mr Paul Adjei, has called for the diversification of funding for developing educational infrastructure in the country.
According to him relying solely on the fund for such development was not sustainable, stressing that “We must begin to find innovative and diversified funding sources to address Ghana’s school infrastructure needs across all educational levels.”
Speaking at the three-day National Education Forum which came to a close at the Volta Regional capital of Ho over the weekend, Mr Adjei explained that the over reliance on GETFund as the primary funding source for developing educational infrastructure across levels was having a toll on the fund.
This, he said could lead to the ultimate collapse of the fund stressing that “The time has come for stakeholders to explore alternative financing models, including private sector investments, community-driven initiatives, diaspora contributions, endowment funds and philanthropic foundations.”
Mr Adjei who also delivered a paper on “Government and Stakeholder Partnerships in School Infrastructure Development in Ghana” during one of the forum’s five breakout sessions, highlighted the need for cost-effective and time-efficient solutions to addressing the infrastructure deficit in schools.
He said the country must start exploring the use of high-quality prefabricated materials and green solutions in school construction projects.
These materials, he said could significantly reduce costs and expedite project delivery.
The discussion also underscored the importance of fostering community ownership and involvement in school facility management and maintenance.
Additionally, participants advocated a phased-approach to large-scale infrastructure projects, especially at the tertiary level to enable partial use of facilities before full completion.
The forum, was on the theme: “Transforming education for a sustainable future.”
In attendance was President John Dramani Mahama, academic experts and teachers.
The forum encouraged all Ghanaians to actively participate in shaping a comprehensive blueprint for education development.
BY CLIFF EKUFUL