President Akufo-Addo has expressed his satisfaction with Ghana’s strides in education, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
“I want to be remembered as the Education President,” he said.
Speaking at the 31st Congregation and Third Special Congregation of Valley View University in Accra, where he received an Honorary Doctorate Degree for his contributions to public service, justice, and development, President Akufo-Addo highlighted the significance of educational policies under his leadership.
These include the flagship ‘Free Senior High School (SHS)’ Program, which has enabled hundreds of thousands of Ghanaian youth to access secondary education.
The citation presented to the President acknowledged his role in advocating for peace in sub-Saharan Africa, promoting media freedom, and shaping Ghana’s legal and foreign policy framework.
It also commended his administration for achieving a record enrollment of 503,000 students in 2024, the highest in the country’s history at the SHS level.
President Akufo-Addo underscored the government’s commitment to enhancing technical and vocational training, STEM education, and overall educational quality.
He highlighted ongoing efforts to establish four new universities and ensure adequate research funding for lecturers to drive national growth through innovation and knowledge generation.
“Your illustrious career has been marked by an unwavering commitment to the rule of law, justice and democracy.
“Your Administration has championed many educational policies,” the citation read, highlighting the Government’s flagship ‘Free Senior High School (SHS)’ Programme, which has provided opportunities for many Ghanaian youth to access second-cycle education.
The citation also highlighted President Nana Akufo-Addo’s reputation for championing human rights, media freedom, judicial independence, and democratic governance.
During his address, President Akufo-Addo noted that the enrollment of 503,000 students in 2024 marked the highest single enrollment at the SHS level in Ghana’s history. He underscored that the government has invested over 12 billion Ghana Cedis in the Free SHS Programme since its inception in 2017, benefiting more than four million children.
The President justified the program by emphasizing its success in training essential human resources crucial for future development. He outlined the government’s focus on expanding technical and vocational education, as well as STEM education, to equip youth with the necessary knowledge and skills for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
To ensure high-quality education, President Akufo-Addo pledged ongoing investments in teacher training, infrastructure development, and providing schools with appropriate teaching and learning materials for optimal outcomes.
“We are laying a strong foundation for the future of our nation,” he noted.
Regarding tertiary education, President Akufo-Addo suggested that efforts were underway to establish four new universities in Asante-Mampong, Akrodie, Bunso, and Kitampo, aimed at expanding access to higher education.
Furthermore, the government has intensified its efforts to ensure university lecturers receive adequate research allowances, emphasizing the importance of quality research outcomes and the generation of innovative ideas crucial for the nation’s advancement.