The Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare, has urged a substantial increase in Ghana’s national education budget following the nomination of Haruna Iddrisu as Minister-designate for Education by President John Dramani Mahama.

Mr Asare stressed the importance of budgetary investment in addressing the country’s education challenges and fulfilling the ambitious promises outlined in the NDC’s manifesto.

In an interview with Citi FM on Thursday, 16 January 2025, Mr Asare emphasised the critical role of adequate funding in implementing effective education policies and programmes.

He noted that a 20% allocation of the public budget to education would align with international standards, such as UNESCO’s recommendation that governments dedicate 15-20% of total expenditure to education.

“We expect the minister to influence the education budget to ensure that at least 20% of the public budget is allocated to education.

This allocation would form the foundation for delivering on the 140 education promises in the NDC manifesto, with significant progress expected within the first year,” he stated.

In addition to advocating for increased funding, Mr Asare called for the convening of a national education conference.

He highlighted the importance of creating a platform for dialogue and collaboration among educators, policymakers, and civil society organisations to address pressing challenges and identify effective strategies to achieve Ghana’s education goals.