Gov’t has spent GH¢1.1 billion on student feeding – Dr. Apaak

The Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, has highlighted the NDC government’s dedication to improving second-cycle education in the country.

He noted that an amount of GH¢1.1 billion has been invested in school feeding since the party assumed office.

At the launch of Zambezi Secondary Technical School’s (ZAMSE) 50th anniversary in Bolgatanga, Dr. Apaak explained that the funding is aimed at providing students with adequate and nutritious meals, helping them focus on their studies in a supportive learning environment.

“Since we took over the reins of governance, the NDC government has spent GH¢1.1 billion on only food to ensure that our wards get nutritious, balanced, sufficient food so that they can have the serenity of mind to study,” he told attendees.

He also emphasized the revival of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) as a key measure to involve parents and guardians in school decision-making.

“We stand by the decision to reinstate PTAs because, working together with school authorities, the government, and the Ghana Education Service, we can collectively address many of these challenges,” Dr. Apaak added.

The Deputy Minister noted that the government has extended the Free Secondary Education policy to cover private schools, and has allocated a record GH¢4.2 billion in the 2026 budget specifically for secondary education.

“This has never happened before. Even those who claim to be the originators of free secondary education could not allocate such an amount,” he said, underlining the scale of the government’s investment.

Dr. Apaak further revealed that funding for secondary schools is now secured through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) following a parliamentary amendment, ensuring a stable and reliable source of support for the sector.

He acknowledged ongoing challenges at ZAMSE, including incomplete buildings, insufficient workshops, limited teacher accommodation, inadequate toilet facilities, furniture shortages, and encroachment on school land. He assured that these issues would be escalated to the Minister for Education and that interventions are underway.

Identifying as a “son of the region,” Dr. Apaak promised to keep advocating for the school to ensure these concerns are addressed promptly.

He concluded by noting that despite being in office for less than a year, the government’s efforts are already making a visible difference, particularly in feeding programs.
“For students moving to Year Three, the difference in food quality and quantity from Year One to now is like night and day,” he observed.

The event brought together alumni, education officials, traditional leaders, and community members to celebrate 50 years of technical education excellence at ZAMSE.