Early childhood investment offers highest returns – Dr. Apaak

Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, says investing in early childhood development yields the highest returns for education, health, and national productivity.

Dr. Apaak made this assertion on Thursday, March 27, 2026, during a GES–Lively Minds programme meeting in Accra following a field visit to the Upper East Region.

Addressing stakeholders and international delegates, he emphasised that strengthening early childhood systems is central to Ghana’s development agenda.

“The evidence is clear: investment in early childhood development delivers the highest returns not only in education, but in health, productivity, and national development,” he said.

He noted that improving foundational learning requires deliberate and sustained attention to the early years, warning that delays in intervention often widen inequality gaps.

“If we are serious about improving learning outcomes, reducing inequality, and building resilient economies, then we must start early and we must get it right,” he stated.

Dr. Apaak highlighted the GES–Lively Minds model as a practical example of how early childhood interventions can be effectively scaled within public systems.

According to him, the programme’s strength lies in its simplicity and community-driven approach.

“This model works because it is simple, inclusive, and community-driven,” he explained, adding that it “improves learning outcomes through play-based approaches” while empowering parents, especially mothers, to actively support their children’s education.

He further pointed out that unlike many pilot initiatives, the model is fully embedded within government structures, ensuring sustainability and long-term national impact.

“What distinguishes this model is that it is designed for sustainability, scale, and long-term national impact,” Dr. Apaak said.

The Deputy Minister also described the initiative as an example of homegrown innovation with broader relevance across the continent.

“What you have seen is not just a Ghanaian innovation, it is an African solution,” he noted, stressing its adaptability to other countries.

As Ghana prepares to expand the programme nationwide, Dr. Apaak expressed confidence that sustained investment in early childhood development will transform learning outcomes.