Rebuilding our education system to power the digital economy (Part 6)

Ghana has great potential but lacks alignment and strategy. We need a clear, long-term National Roadmap for an Education-Driven Digital Economy. Here’s a vision for the next 10 to 15 years.

Phase 1 (Years 1 – 3): Stabilize, Streamline, and Signal Change

First, we must trim and realign the Ministry of Education and GES. This means downsizing these bureaucracies and reassigning their roles. The Ministry will focus on policy while GES handles regulation. We should redirect at least 25% of their budget to support students through GETFund.

Next, we will establish the Education Leadership Commission. This bipartisan body will vet appointments and enforce performance-based contracts for educational leaders. No more political favors; leadership must be earned.

We will launch Public-Private University Partnership Pilots. This involves leasing state universities like Legon or UCC under long-term agreements with proven global institutions. They must present plans to upgrade campuses using funds that would have built new ones abroad.

Additionally, we will fully integrate private universities into national planning. A legal framework will allow them access to research funding and participation in national programs, especially in underserved areas.

Finally, we’ll pilot the Digital National Service Corps (DNSC). This program will involve 1,000 high-performing students from public and private universities working on real national challenges.

Phase 2 (Years 4 – 7): Build Capacity, Systems, and Scale

In this phase, we’ll rebrand vocational education through a national campaign. We’ll modernize equipment and retrain instructors to meet labor market needs.

We aim to expand STEM education into every district. Every basic school should have access to STEM labs and coding clubs with help from global partners.

We’ll introduce Regional Centres of Innovation Excellence by transforming key technical universities into innovation hubs focused on green energy or digital health. Private sector partners can help shape curricula here.

Next, we’ll upgrade accreditation models by establishing an outcomes-based National Accreditation Council that ranks institutions based on employment rates and innovation output.

Lastly, we’ll create Diaspora Talent Exchange Programs to attract skilled African professionals back as mentors or advisors through incentives like tax breaks.

Phase 3 (Years 8 – 15): Embed Innovation, Export Talent, and Lead

We will develop a National Talent Development Index to track progress in education metrics like teacher training levels and student competencies.

Our goal is to position Ghana as a regional education hub by attracting international students with streamlined visa processes and quality instruction in English.

Education must be embedded within digital zones developed beyond the One Square Mile. Each zone should include campuses connected to local industries for mutual benefit.

By Year 10, the DNSC should cover at least 10,000 graduates annually addressing issues in agriculture or public health nationwide.

Finally, we need to institutionalize this roadmap through law with a National Innovation Act ensuring reforms are protected from political changes.

What Success Will Look Like

Education will become an investment rather than a financial burden. Universities will compete based on research rather than political ties.

TVET graduates will gain respect as builders of Ghana’s future both locally and globally. Collaboration between private and public universities will drive national outcomes effectively.

National service roles will shift from clerical tasks to platforms for entrepreneurship. Ghana can export skilled talent while attracting global campuses leading African innovation discussions.

Final Thoughts: The 100-Year Test

Future generations will judge us not by our speeches but by our foundations laid today. Did we equip them for competition? Or did we leave behind crumbling systems?

This series serves as both a call to action and a blueprint for change. If we act now—strategically—we can prepare Ghana for the digital age ahead of time.