Cancellation of contracts, re-award of hostel projects good for development

 The announcement by the Minister of Educa­tion, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, that government has allocated GH¢403 million under the Gha­na Education Trust Fund (GET­Fund) for the completion of stalled hostel projects in Colleges of Education is welcome news.

For far too long, accommoda­tion challenges have compound­ed the plight of teacher trainees, undermining their welfare and academic focus. Government’s decision to cancel and re-award contracts for abandoned proj­ects is a bold step that must be matched with strict supervision and accountability.

Public funds cannot continue to be tied up in uncompleted projects while students struggle to find decent accommodation. If the hostels are completed as scheduled, they will significantly ease the pressure on facilities across the country’s 46 Colleges of Education.

The Ghanaian Times recalls that in 2023, the government initiated the construction of 45 hostels across the colleges. However, it is sad that till date only nine projects are near completion, with 11 making modest progress and 25 hardly moving.

Projects meant to improve the training environment of future teachers cannot be left at the mercy of contractors who fail to deliver. The re-awarded contracts must therefore be closely moni­tored to ensure early completion.

Also important is the an­nouncement that three private colleges, made up of Savannah College of Education, Muslim Mission College at Beposo, and Christ the Teacher at Nsoko have been absorbed into the public system, bringing the num­ber of public colleges to 48.

This move expands access to teacher education and under­scores government’s commit­ment to strengthening the foun­dation of the nation’s human resource development.

We urge the Ghana Ter­tiary Education Commission (GTEC) to expedite the absorp­tion process to ensure smooth integration. The migration of all 48 colleges to university status also demands urgent attention to the enabling Act governing them.

The directive to GTEC to collaborate with the Attor­ney-General’s Department to amend the law is timely. With­out legal clarity, the colleges risk operational bottlenecks, especially in governance and conditions of service. Parlia­ment must therefore treat this amendment as a priority in its next sitting.

Furthermore, the looming retirement or exit of about 20 Principals of Colleges of Edu­cation in 2026 presents another governance challenge.

The Ghanaian Times shares the Minister’s call for the Governing Councils to work closely with GTEC to ensure a transparent and seamless process of re­placement. Leadership transi­tions, if mishandled, can disrupt institutional progress.

The future of Ghana’s edu­cation system depends heavily on the quality of teachers we produce today. By investing in the welfare, infrastructure, and governance of our Colleges of Education, we are safeguard­ing the training of competent professionals who will shape generations.

The GH¢403 million alloca­tion must therefore not become another cycle of uncompleted projects, but a turning point for accountability and delivery.