Ghana's Parliament has approved a US$300 million credit facility agreement between the Government of Ghana and the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group. This significant funding will finance the Secondary Education Transformation for Access, Relevance and Results for Jobs (STARR-J) project. The project aims to expand access to secondary education, improve its quality and relevance, and strengthen institutional systems across the country.
The approved credit facility allocates US$257.7 million specifically to expanding equitable access to secondary education. An additional US$33.8 million will support quality improvement initiatives and provide necessary counterpart funding. A further US$5 million is earmarked for strengthening the institutional and administrative systems essential for sustaining improvements in access, quality, and relevance within the education sector.
This approval comes at a critical time for Ghana's education system, which has seen significant expansion through policies like the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) program. The investment in infrastructure and quality aims to address existing disparities and ensure a more uniform standard of education nationwide. This aligns with broader national development goals focused on human capital development and economic growth.
The parliamentary approval followed a heated debate on Tuesday, marked by frequent interjections from both the Majority and Minority caucuses. Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin accused the government of using the loan to finance the Free SHS programme, rather than the stated secondary education transformation project. He stated, "Mr Speaker, we are saying that it is okay to make an investment in education. After all, this policy is the brainchild of former President Akufo-Addo."
Mr. Afenyo-Markin added that the Minority would closely monitor the facility's implementation. He emphasized ensuring the funds are used for their intended purpose, stating, "We are going to open our eyes to look into the procurement. It is not going to be business as usual." The Deputy Ranking Member on the Finance Committee, Dr. Gideon Boako, also criticized the government's return to the debt market shortly after exiting the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, citing weak revenue mobilization.
In response, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga rejected claims that the facility was intended to finance Free SHS. He insisted the funding was for improving educational outcomes through infrastructure investment. Mr. Ayariga explained, "Mr Speaker, Ghanaians have received reports about our performance at WASSCE. There is a perceived categorisation of schools into Grade A, B and C."
He further argued that the underlying reason for performance disparities is largely a function of infrastructure. The government's objective, he stated, is to eliminate these disparities by investing in infrastructure. This would allow all secondary schools to attain the same high standard. Mr. Ayariga also clarified that secondary education predated the Free SHS policy, meaning the two are not entirely synonymous.
The approval of this credit facility signals Ghana's continued commitment to enhancing its educational infrastructure and quality. Stakeholders will now closely watch the implementation phase to ensure transparency and effective utilization of the funds. This project's success will be crucial for Ghana's long-term human capital development and economic prospects.