GETFund strengthens accountability, prioritizes value for money – Adjei

The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) is stepping up efforts to ensure value for money in the execution of education infrastructure projects, the Fund’s Administrator, Paul Adjei, has announced.

Contractors who fail to deliver quality work will face strict sanctions, he cautioned.

Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Mr. Adjei said GETFund would adopt a more rigorous approach to supervising projects amid growing concerns over substandard construction and structural defects in some schools. “We are going to be very stringent on value for money. This year, we will be quite tough on how contractors deliver on projects financed by GETFund,” he said.

The Administrator emphasised that contractors must prioritise durability and quality over excessive profits. “Ghanaian taxpayers make significant sacrifices before earning their income, and it is from these same resources that government funds development projects. They therefore deserve nothing short of quality work,” he added.

To enhance oversight, a strategic monitoring team has been established to inspect both ongoing and completed GETFund projects nationwide. Any contractor found failing to meet required standards will face sanctions.

Beyond infrastructure, Mr. Adjei outlined several initiatives to improve education and institutional efficiency. Partnerships with the private sector have brought pledges of up to GH¢18 million each for GETFund projects, while some corporations are investing in renewable energy solutions such as solar installations for schools, reducing pressure on the national grid.

He also announced an expansion of the GETFund Scholarship Scheme, aimed at building human resource capacity across key public institutions, including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, National Fire Service, Prisons Service, and Judicial Service. Addressing journalists, he said: “The scholarships are for Ghanaians, and this is an opportunity to help build capacities within your organisations and communities,” assuring that the application process would be transparent and inclusive, particularly for students from rural areas.

In addition, GETFund has set up a dedicated Corporate Affairs Department to enhance stakeholder engagement and launched a National Student ID system in partnership with financial and technology institutions. The ID cards will facilitate direct payments to students, support student loans, and provide access to discounted goods and services, promoting financial inclusion and welfare nationwide.

Mr. Adjei reiterated the Fund’s commitment to transparency and collaboration, urging the media and other stakeholders to provide feedback to strengthen operations. He said these steps are part of a broader strategy to deepen partnerships, improve accountability, and drive sustainable growth in Ghana’s education sector.