President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his government’s firm commitment to transforming Ghana’s education system, describing the sector as the foundation of his administration’s reset agenda.

Speaking at his Presidential Media Encounter, the President outlined wide-ranging investments and reforms aimed at ensuring equitable access to quality education for all Ghanaians.

“The education sector remains central to our reset agenda, as we firmly believe that the future of our country hinges on an empowered, knowledgeable, and skilled population”.
President John Dramani Mahama

He emphasized that his government is committed to dismantling barriers that have historically prevented many young people from pursuing higher education.

A key measure highlighted was the No-Fee Stress Policy, launched three months ago. The policy has refunded fees to 120,000 first-year students in public tertiary institutions.

According to the President, this represented a decisive break from the painful era when dreams of brilliant but vulnerable young Ghanaians were cut short simply because they could not afford to pay fees, especially at that critical period of admission where they either pay or lose their chance at further education.

The President emphasized that the initiative is tied to a broader framework of student support. The Student Loan Plus Policy, he explained, will guarantee low-income students continued access to higher education by offering flexible and dignified financing options throughout their studies.

“This will ensure that no student is left behind, and that the pursuit of higher education does not come with the burden of unbearable debts or financial uncertainty”.
President John Dramani Mahama

President Mahama also drew attention to the start of the Free Tertiary Education Policy for Persons with Disabilities, which he said removes a key barrier to higher learning for physically challenged Ghanaians. “Education must be a right and not a privilege for every Ghanaian, regardless of their physical ability,” he declared.

Building a Knowledge-Based Economy

The President further underscored his government’s focus on building a knowledge-based economy, announcing the establishment of the Ghana National Research Fund with an initial allocation of GHS50 million.

He explained that for too long, much of the research conducted by Ghanaian academics has been externally funded, leading to intellectual property being owned abroad.

“With this fund, we will slowly but certainly reverse that narrative by empowering our own researchers and ensuring that Ghana owns the knowledge and innovations produced by its intellectuals”.
President John Dramani Mahama

In addition, the government will offer full scholarships annually to five PhD candidates at every university in Ghana. “By investing in our thinkers, we are investing in our future and asserting our intellectual sovereignty,” the President affirmed.

Scene from President Mahama’s media encounter

Promoting Gender Equity in Education

President Mahama also highlighted interventions to promote gender equity in education. He disclosed that over six million sanitary pads have been distributed to girls in primary and secondary schools as part of efforts to fight period poverty and keep girls in school.

“This is about dignity, inclusion, and ensuring that no girl child is forced out of school because of something so natural,” he explained. On the much-debated Free Senior High School (SHS) Policy, the President stressed that the policy has not only been maintained but significantly strengthened.

“Contrary to the widespread misinformation that was circulated before December 7, 2024, the Free SHS policy has not only been maintained, indeed it has been strengthened. We’ve made the highest budgetary allocation in the history of the policy. As of now, a staggering 3.5 billion Ghana cedis has been dedicated to the Free SHS”.
President John Dramani Mahama

He added that his administration’s focus goes beyond access to improving quality, pointing to the decentralization of the school feeding program. This, he explained, will empower school management to directly procure and provide better meals for students. “We understand that access without quality is inadequate,” the President remarked.

At the basic education level, he noted that the government has made historic investments to strengthen foundational learning. Basic education has received its highest budgetary allocation in nearly a decade, with 564.6 million cedis earmarked for textbooks.

“With this allocation, we are addressing longstanding challenges in the system, particularly those caused by reduced funding in the recent past,” he explained. President Mahama framed these initiatives as part of a deliberate agenda to reset the education sector and place it at the center of Ghana’s long-term development.

“Our commitment to foundational learning is equally strong. Basic education has received its highest budget allocation in almost a decade, reflecting our determination to rebuild the educational ladder from the ground up”.
President John Dramani Mahama

In closing, the President described education as the bedrock of Ghana’s progress and the most critical investment his government can make. “By investing in education, we are not just securing opportunities for today’s children, but we are shaping the destiny of Ghana itself,” he declared. He urged Ghanaians to support the reforms, assuring them that the benefits would be felt across generations.