Upon assuming office on January 7, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama’s administration, as part of its reset agenda for the education sector, nominated Haruna Iddrisu as Minister for Education and Dr. Clement Apaak as his Deputy. Recognizing how deeply education resonates with President Mahama, the duo has, within just 120 days, taken significant steps toward sustainable progress in Ghana’s education system.
Like other sectors, the Ministry of Education can proudly highlight several impactful initiatives. The Minister and his Deputy swiftly collaborated with the eight-member committee appointed by President Mahama to organize the National Education Forum, reaffirming their commitment to advancing Ghana’s education landscape.
Chaired by the former Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Professor George K. T. Oduro, the committee includes Professor Goski Alabi, Professor Rosemary Bosu, Dr. Samuel Awuku, and Professor Smile Dzisi. Other members are Kofi Asare, Stephen Owusu, and Inusah Shiraz.
The Ministry of Education has toured the country alongside this committee, soliciting ideas from citizens as part of the National Democratic Congress’s pledge to revamp the sector, consolidating past gains while addressing ongoing challenges threatening progress.
Just five days into President Mahama’s administration, the government took decisive action to resolve the escalating food shortages in Senior High Schools (SHS) across the country. The President directed the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, to coordinate with the Ghana Education Service to distribute food from warehouses in Tema to public second-cycle schools nationwide.
Dr. Clement Apaak played a key role in this distribution effort, which swiftly resolved the shortages. School heads who had previously raised concerns expressed satisfaction with the government’s timely intervention.
In furtherance of their mandate, Minister Haruna Iddrisu and Dr. Apaak have inaugurated several key committees to begin work on delivering their promises to the Ghanaian people.
One of the major milestones is the inauguration of a high-powered committee tasked with overseeing the transition from the double-track to a single-track system in Senior High Schools and Senior High Technical Schools. This move reflects the government’s effort to streamline the academic calendar and improve the quality of education.
The 11-member committee will manage logistics and oversee the smooth implementation of the new single-track system, addressing challenges that may emerge during the transition.
Additionally, the Board of Trustees of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) has been inaugurated. Chaired by the Member of Parliament for Ho West, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, the Board comprises representatives from various institutions.
Most recently, a 13-member steering committee has been inaugurated to review the curriculum from Kindergarten (KG) to Basic Six.
Addressing the committee, the Minister emphasized that the curriculum review must strengthen national values.
He stressed that the future success of the nation is rooted in its education system, stating, “If we get it right in education, we will get it right as a country.”
He added, “It is my considered view that the exercise you are undertaking will produce ethical and responsible leaders for our country. To succeed in today’s world and to build the Ghana we envision, our children need more than academic knowledge.”
Mr. Iddrisu emphasized that children must develop holistic skills that empower them to think critically, solve problems, communicate effectively, collaborate, and navigate uncertainty with confidence.
“It is time our children understand that Africa has much to offer—not just in survival, but in brilliance, culture, and innovation. We expect this curriculum review to reflect real life,” he stated.
“I should add that we expect a curriculum that strengthens our national values of honesty, respect, integrity, patriotism, and, most importantly, civic responsibility,” he concluded.