President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to holistic education reform, anchored on teacher welfare, community engagement, and infrastructure development.
Speaking at the Presidency in Accra during a courtesy call by a delegation from the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), President Mahama outlined a broad policy agenda aimed at restoring dignity to the teaching profession and strengthening governance in schools.
Central to his message was the reintegration of Parents Teachers Associations (PTAs) into the formal management of schools, reversing what he described as their marginalization under previous governments.
“I was scandalized when PTAs were shoved aside. Community participation is crucial to good school governance. We must bring PTAs back into the decision-making space at both first and second cycle institutions,” the President stated.
Mahama’s remarks signal a policy shift toward decentralized school management, aligned with recommendations from the Education Review Committee. He emphasized that better supervision and accountability at the district level would yield stronger educational outcomes than a centralized model.
Beyond governance, President Mahama also announced key welfare initiatives for teachers, including plans for government-backed teacher housing schemes. He revealed that the state would co-invest with the Teachers Fund to create a revolving housing facility, allowing teachers to acquire homes and pay over the course of their careers.
“We want every basic school project to come with teachers’ quarters. And through a counterpart funding arrangement with the Teachers Fund, teachers can begin to own decent homes before retirement,” he said.
The President further disclosed that a national pension reform dialogue involving the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Organised Labour, and government would be convened soon to review retirement benefits, including for teachers.
Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, stressed the importance of centering teachers in any drive for quality education, describing them as “indispensable to the success of the learner.”
GNAT Secretary-General Thomas Tanko Musah, who led the delegation, congratulated President Mahama on his 2024 electoral victory and expressed optimism about renewed collaboration under his administration. He also invited the President to serve as guest of honour at the Association’s national delegates congress in January 2026.
Economist Kwame Pianim, also present at the meeting, lauded GNAT as one of the most credible and organized unions in Ghana, underscoring the importance of maintaining healthy government-union relations in advancing education.
As Mahama’s administration prepares to launch its full education agenda in 2026, the tone has been set for reforms that prioritize teacher dignity, decentralization, and community engagement as cornerstones of education policy.
