The Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum has commended the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for its massive contribution towards the development of education in the country.

According to him, the huge financial support provided by GETFund to various educational institutions across the country keeps promoting the development of education in the country.

Dr. Adutwum made the commendation during a stakeholder’s forum organised by the GETFund in Accra on Tuesday.

The forum brought together the Ministry of Education and other agencies in the education sector, GETFund contractors, Civil Society Organizations, some Members of Parliament, Heads of Senior High Schools and Vice Chancellors of Universities, Regional Deans of Metropolitan, Municipal, District Assemblies, all Regional Coordinating Directors, Principals of Colleges of Education and GETFund consultant, among others.

Crucial role
The Education Minister described as very crucial, the role played by GETFund towards the transformation of the nation’s economy through education.

Dr. Adutwum who is also the Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe was particularly happy with the judicious use of Ghanaian tax payer’s money by the GETFund towards the development of infrastructure and other support initiatives in the education sector.

He stated that “you have contributed immensely towards the development of the Free Senior High School policy and through your support, we are gradually phasing out the double track system due to the increased investment in school infrastructure”.

Stakeholder involvement
The Administrator of GETFund, Dr. Richard Ampofo Boadu, was full of praise to all stakeholders who have contributed in diverse ways towards the development of the fund.

He recounted the various challenges that have over the years faced the fund and said, it had done a lot to ensure that Ghanaians received many benefits from the fund irrespective of location, ethnicity, political affiliation and religion.

Dr. Boadu was upbeat that with the current state of affairs, the fund would continue to put in place the right measures to ensure that it would continue to provide the best support towards the development of the nation’s education which holds the key to economic emancipation.

The Board Chairman of GETFund, Prof. Dominic Fobih, assured the people that the Management of the fund would continue to work very hard to ensure that it would continue to provide the critical support towards the transformation of the country through education.

Background
The GETFund was established by Act 581 of Parliament in the year 2000 as a result of rapidly rising enrolment at all levels of education, escalating demand on education resources, over-crowded and dilapidated infrastructure and others.

It has since 2001 provided hundreds of educational infrastructure, support to the Education Ministry and its Agencies, Government Policy and programme support, scholarship and capacity building programmes among other initiatives.