Education Ministry is seeking Cabinet approval for 10% of GETFund resources to be reserved for TVET

Government has earmarked GH¢100 million for Ghana’s 10 technical universities under the 2027 Ghana Education Trust Fund formula to strengthen infrastructure and development within the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector.

Under the arrangement, each technical university is expected to receive GH¢10 million as seed funding and financial support to improve facilities, equipment, and innovation-driven programmes.

The announcement was made by Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu during the opening of the 2026 Applied Research Conference of Technical Universities of Ghana (ARCTUG 2026) at Takoradi Technical University on May 26.

According to the Minister, the directive was issued by President John Dramani Mahama as part of broader efforts to reposition technical education as a major driver of industrialisation, innovation, and entrepreneurship in Ghana.

“President John Dramani Mahama has accordingly directed me to further direct the Administrator of GETFund into his 2027 formula to make an allocation of GH¢100 million — GH¢10 million to each of your technical universities as your seed money and distress money,” Mr Iddrisu announced.

He stressed that the allocation was a firm government commitment and not merely a political promise.

“And you know the difference. It is not one of those political promises,” he added.

Mr Iddrisu pointed to earlier interventions in the higher education sector as evidence of government’s commitment to educational financing.

“Last year President Mahama promised five universities; each of them has received GH¢10 million,” he stated.

The Minister also disclosed that GETFund had been directed to release additional support to newly established public universities.

“Only yesterday, I requested GETFund to release GH¢10 million to the University for Sustainable Development in Somanya and GH¢5 million to the University of Agriculture and Engineering Sciences at Bonsu to start life,” he revealed.

Beyond the immediate allocations, the Education Minister announced plans to establish a dedicated national TVET Fund to ensure sustainable financing for technical and vocational education in Ghana.

According to him, the proposal is currently before Cabinet and could become one of the flagship education reforms under the Mahama administration.

“The most profound policy comment I am before Cabinet with, and which all of us, if we are lucky, will celebrate as an enduring legacy of President John Dramani Mahama for Ghana and technical education, is for Ghana to have a dedicated TVET Fund,” he said.

Mr Iddrisu explained that the Ministry of Education is seeking approval for 10 percent of GETFund resources to be specifically reserved for technical and vocational education.

“So mathematically, if you did GH¢9.9 billion, it means some GH¢900 million can be available for technical education, which will respond to your most pressing needs of infrastructure and financing for tools and equipment,” he explained.

The Education Minister further disclosed that government is considering allocating 2.5 percent of Ghana’s total oil revenue to support technical and vocational education.

“If we get 2.5 percent, then technical education would have been assured of adequate sustainable financing,” he stated.

Education stakeholders say the proposal could significantly improve long-term financing for skills training, industrial technology, research, and innovation within Ghana’s technical institutions.

Mr Iddrisu also assured that the Jomoro College of Education at Ezinlibo in the Western Region would receive infrastructure support similar to projects recently commissioned in Bawku.

“Be assured that the Jomoro College of Education at Ezinlibo will receive the same infrastructure that President Mahama commissioned in Bawku two days ago,” he said.

ARCTUG 2026 is being hosted by Takoradi Technical University under the auspices of the Vice-Chancellors of Technical Universities of Ghana.

The conference is being held on the theme: “Advancing TVET for Innovation, Technology Transfer, and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development.”

The five-day event, running from May 25 to 29, has brought together researchers, policymakers, industry players, lecturers, and students to discuss applied research, innovation, and the future of technical education in Ghana.