The Vice-President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference and the Catholic Bishop of Ho, Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, has confirmed that the government has verbally invited them to participate in the National Education Reform forum, which commenced in Ho on Tuesday, February 18.

Speaking to JoyNews' Maxwell Agbagba just before the public forum kicked off, the Bishop explained, "I think because we raised our concerns, we were heard. I was invited this morning, so since I am in Ho, I am here."

Bishop Fianu said, "The verbal invitation came this morning after we raised our concerns," he told Maxwell.

Although the church leaders were initially unhappy with their exclusion, the Bishop stated that the government had apologised, and they were now content to participate in the forum.

"Professor George K.T. Oduro [Chairman of the forum] has apologised, and the [Education] Minister has also apologised, so it is okay," he said.

The day before the forum, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) and the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) expressed their deep dissatisfaction with their exclusion from the process.

Read also: National Education Forum: Catholic Bishops, Christian Council express concern over omission

President John Mahama established the eight-member committee to travel across the country and organise a national education reform initiative, aimed at gathering ideas for resetting the country’s education system, particularly at the basic and secondary levels.

Read also: Mahama appoints 8-member committee to plan National Education Forum

The committee, led by Professor George K.T. Oduro, is conducting the forum from February 18-19, with the first session held in Ho on Tuesday, February 18.