How Ghana Can Finance Quality Education Sustainably: A Strategic Policy Outlook

By
Ellis Ferdinand
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Ferdinand | EducationGhana | June 06 |  How Ghana Can Finance Quality Education Sustainably: A Strategic Policy Outlook

As Ghana strives to deliver inclusive and equitable quality education, a major challenge remains: sustainable financing. With increasing student enrolment, curriculum reforms, infrastructural demands, and global commitments like SDG 4, the question is not whether to fund education—but how to do it sustainably, equitably, and efficiently.

Following recent national consultations such as the National Education Dialogue (2025) and development partner reviews under GALOP and GPEG, here are key strategies Ghana can adopt to finance education sustainably:

 1. Increase Domestic Resource Mobilization for Education

Ghana must expand its tax base to ensure stable, long-term investment in the sector.

  • Progressive Taxation: Strengthen tax compliance and close loopholes, especially in the informal sector.
  • Earmark Taxes: Consider levies (e.g., on mobile money or luxury items) with a direct allocation to the education budget.
  • Property and District-Level Levies: Empower local governments to mobilize and channel funds to basic and secondary education.

 2. Implement a Dedicated Education Financing Law

Enact legislation that guarantees a minimum percentage of GDP or total government expenditure allocated to education (UNESCO recommends 4-6% of GDP or 15-20% of public spending).

Such a law would:

  • Prevent erratic budget allocations
  • Enable long-term planning
  • Hold governments accountable across election cycles

 3. Strengthen Public Financial Management and Efficiency

Even as more funds are raised, their efficient use is critical.

  • Reduce leakages via digitized teacher payroll and procurement systems
  • Link spending to learning outcomes, not just inputs
  • Prioritize basic education and teacher development over politically driven capital projects

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4. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)

Tap into private sector capital, innovation, and infrastructure to complement government funding.

Examples include:

  • Adopt-a-school models
  • Private school vouchers for underserved communities
  • Corporate sponsorships for STEM labs, TVET, and digital literacy

 5. Optimize Education Sector Planning and Data Use

Use tools like the Education Sector Analysis (ESA) and Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to align spending with real needs.

  • Invest in real-time EMIS (Education Management Information Systems)
  • Monitor teacher deployment, learning gaps, and dropout patterns for better targeting
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 6. Innovative Financing Mechanisms

  • Education Bonds: Raise capital for long-term projects through public debt instruments
  • Diaspora Bonds: Engage Ghanaian professionals abroad in funding scholarships or school infrastructure
  • Impact Investing: Attract funders seeking measurable education outcomes

7. Strengthen Donor Coordination and Aid Effectiveness

Development partners such as the World Bank (GALOP, GESOP), USAID, UNICEF, and the EU play a major role. Ghana must:

  • Align all donor funds under a Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp)
  • Ensure transparency and alignment with national priorities

8. Leverage Technology for Cost-Efficiency

Digital platforms can cut costs while expanding reach.

  • E-learning platforms for remote areas
  • Automated teacher training
  • Digital textbooks and low-data apps

 9. Invest in Early Childhood Education (ECE)

Numerous studies show that investments in early years yield the highest returns. Ghana must:

  • Expand access to quality KG infrastructure
  • Train ECE teachers with play-based pedagogy
  • Include ECE in national education financing formulas

 

💬 Expert Opinion

“Ghana must move from free education as a political slogan to sustainable, quality education as a national strategy,” says Prof. G.K.T. Oduro, Chair of the 2025 National Education Forum.

 

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📩 For partnerships and research support, contact: Ellisferdinand@ymail.com or Education.ghana@yahoo.com 

 

 

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