A year ago, Ghanaians rejoiced at the Minister of Education’s announcement of the construction of 300-bed hostels in all public Colleges of Education to be handed over by August 2023.
However, with only four months left until the deadline, investigations reveal that 20 out of the 46 colleges have not seen any contractors, and the remaining 28 are still at the foundation level, with some sites abandoned by contractors.
The worst case is at Gabagaba College of Education, where a 400-bed hostel, which started in 2012, has been abandoned.
Meanwhile, the new government’s 300-bed hostel project is also stuck at the foundation stage. Why spend cash on a new project when the abandoned foundation could have been used to complete the roofed one?
See also: Komenda College of Education to Receive New Hostel by 2023.
This situation exposes the Minister of Finance’s mismanagement of the GETFund, which is ruining the education system at all levels.
The Minister of Education must update stakeholders on the progress of work on the hostels in the colleges, as the August handover deadline approaches.
They must also announce a rescue plan to save this failed project.
Moreover, reports show that there are stalled 300-bed hostel projects in Gbewaa College of Education, Pusiga, and a 400-bed capacity ladies’ hostel has been abandoned for 11 years at Bagabaga College of Education, Tamale.
This trend is unacceptable and requires urgent attention.
The Minister of Education needs to prioritize these crucial hostel projects to provide a conducive learning environment for students. Ghanaians demand accountability and swift action to rectify this failure.
