The Chairman of the Planning Committee of the National Education Forum, Prof. K.T. George Oduro has expressed deep concern and disappointment about comments made by former deputy education minister Rev. John Ntim Fordjour.
According to him, it’s surprising and sad that a former deputy education minister would argue that engaging stakeholders in the education and related sectors is needless and a waste of Ghana’s resources.
The former Deputy Minister of Education, Rev. Ntim Fordjour has criticised the government’s National Education Forum, calling it a waste of Ghana’s precious resources.
According to the Assin South MP, the Mahama administration should be intereted in implementing its proposed education policies in it manifest which includes the continuation and extension of the Free SHS policy to private schools, payment of first-year fees for tertiary students in public institutions, and the cancellation of the double-track system.
Speaking at the National Education Forum’s engagement with religious leaders in the education sector in Accra, Wednesday 26th February 2025, Prof Oduro said if the NPP government engage stakeholders in the education sector before the implementation of the Free SHS policy, we would have found ourselves in this mess.
“Manifesto is not a policy, manifesto ia an idea so when you have been given the mandate, a social contact and you think about implementation it is very important that you engage stakeholders so they understand what is involved in what ever you want to implement. So, a former deputy education minister, and you think they is no need to engage the public in implementing your manifesto policies? This is sad.
The former Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast Prof KT Oduro however stressed that the forum aims to address multiple facets of the education system like infrastructure, quality education, regulations, accountability, education financing and research.
These areas, he believed, need a comprehensive approach to reform.
The forum had the leadership of the Christian council of Ghana, the Armadiya Muslim Mission, and the Office of the National Chief Imam, among others.
Osman Issah Abadoo
