As President John Dramani Mahama’s administration accounts to Ghanaians on his stewardship in the first six months in office, the education sector has been the biggest beneficiary in programs and initiatives execution.
During the presentation of the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Statement to Parliament last, the Finance Minister listed a number of initiatives and programs executed under various sectors of the economy.
The education sector seems to have gotten the best of the President Mahama administration’s attention with numerous interventions executed to reposition the education sector as the soul of the country’s socio-economic advancement.
Some of the initiatives executed have included payments for: tuition fees for first year tertiary students; Arrears of Nursing trainee allowances; School feeding per child budget increased; Capitation grant arrears cleared up to current term; and Quality of meals in High schools improved as quality and quantity of food supplied is monitored and ensured.
Others include: Free SHS budget allocations increased with dedicated source of funding; All District assemblies directed to build a Nursery, Primary, JHS from their 2025 common fund; Preparation advanced to complete all stalled E-Blocks; 60 private schools included in the Free SHS among other initiatives.
Meanwhile, Dr Ato Forson addressed criticisms suggesting that the government was not investing enough in critical sectors of the economy, clarifying that, substantial payments have been made across various priority areas since the beginning of 2025.
He strongly defended the Mahama administration’s spending record, insisting that the government is not only spending, but doing so in areas that directly benefit the economy and improve the lives of Ghanaians.
“Rt. Hon. Speaker, contrary to the perception that we are not spending, we are indeed spending—and spending at the right places. We are making the right investments,” he said.
Outlining a comprehensive list of disbursements made from the Consolidated Fund between January and June 2025, Dr. Forson revealed that a total of GH¢114.5 billion in cash had been spent, with non-interest expenditures alone amounting to GH¢84.2 billion.
Key payments have included:
US$700 million to settle Eurobond obligations
GH¢10 billion to domestic bondholders
GH¢2.9 billion to the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF)
GH¢2.7 billion to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT)
GH¢9.1 billion to support the energy sector for stable power supply
GH¢5 billion for the clearance of arrears
GH¢4.6 billion to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund)
GH¢1 billion to support the Free Secondary Education programme
GH¢4.6 billion to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to buy vitamins and supplements
GH¢1.4 billion to settle NHIS claims
GH¢252 million for the procurement of vaccines and essential medicines
GH¢72.8 million for Capitation Grants
GH¢477 million to support beneficiaries of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme
GH¢895 million to the School Feeding Programme
GH¢122.8 million to cover BECE registration
GH¢300 million for the No Fee Stress Policy
GH¢191.7 million for Teacher Training Allowances
GH¢462.6 million for Nursing Training Allowances
GH¢25 million to pay Assembly Members’ allowances
GH¢21 million to support the National Apprenticeship Programme
GH¢34.5 million to the Adwumawura Programme
About GH¢2 billion to support the operations of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies
About GH¢2 billion to recapitalise the National Investment Bank (NIB)
Dr. Forson emphasized that these payments reflect the government’s commitment to maintaining fiscal discipline while delivering essential public services and protecting social interventions.
He concluded by reaffirming the Mahama administration’s resolve to reset the economy for inclusive growth, stressing that “we are spending wisely, targeting the sectors that matter most to our people and our future.”
