Rebuilding our education system to power the digital economy: A call for radical rethinking (Part 1)

Ghana's current education system is outdated and ineffective. It is burdened by bureaucracy, inefficiency, and politics. If Ghana wants to compete in the 21st century, we must face a hard truth: our education system is failing.

Education drives innovation, productivity, and national competitiveness. However, in Ghana, this engine is sputtering. Over 50% of our education budget goes to administrative costs instead of teaching or learning. This includes travel allowances, salaries for ministry staff, and government vehicles.

We need to redirect our resources and focus on governance. First, we should reduce unnecessary expenses. The Ministry of Education should focus on policy development rather than micromanagement.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) must change too. It should become a regulator that sets standards and monitors compliance. Educators and communities should lead education delivery instead of bureaucrats.

We can be bold by leasing universities like Legon to global consortia. These consortia could include religious and academic institutions with successful track records. We could offer a 50-year lease for just one dollar if they present credible plans for improvement.

These institutions must show how they will upgrade infrastructure and faculty using their own funds. Examples include the Catholic Church with Notre Dame or the LDS Church with Brigham Young University.

Let these organizations bring their standards to Ghana’s higher education sector. They should compete based on proven capability rather than ideology.

In return for their investment in facilities and faculty salaries, tuition may rise but access will remain intact. The government can use the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to support talented but needy students.

Universities will identify these students through merit-based systems while administering financial aid on behalf of the government. The government's role will shift from management to strategic support for access to quality education.

This issue transcends religion or ideology; it’s about results. We are losing our brightest minds abroad where they pay more but receive greater value in return.

To build such value in Ghana requires stopping the politicization of education. Many appointments are based on party loyalty rather than competence. People without classroom experience often lead educational agencies due to political connections.

This situation is absurd yet expected efficiency from these institutions? We appoint individuals who have never created jobs to run job-creating agencies while youth unemployment rises.

We need respect for career professionals in educational agencies. Politicians should serve as ministers or deputies only while qualified individuals lead these agencies.

If we do not change this approach, our educational bureaucracy will become bloated and resistant to innovation—like a political boot camp instead of an effective system.

Let’s create an economy where politics isn’t the only path to success. Young people should aspire to teach, research, invent, or lead industries—not just shout party slogans for unqualified positions.

It all starts with education; if we fail there, everything else fails too.