President John Dramani Mahama says Ghana has secured a $300 million financing package from the World Bank to expand infrastructure in Senior High Schools (SHSs) and bring the double-track system to an end by the close of 2027.
President Mahama disclosed this on Thursday, September 17, following a high-level meeting with International Finance Corporation (IFC) Managing Director Makhtar Diop.
The meeting focused on strengthening Ghana’s partnership with the World Bank Group, with education infrastructure forming part of the key areas discussed.
In a post on social media, President Mahama said the financing would help address infrastructure challenges that have emerged from the expansion of access to secondary education under the Free SHS programme.
“Through our collaboration with the World Bank, we have secured a $300 million financing package to permanently end the double-track system in Senior High Schools by the end of 2027,” he said.
The double-track system was introduced as a temporary measure to accommodate the sharp increase in SHS enrolment following the introduction of the Free SHS policy, at a time when many schools lacked adequate classrooms, dormitories and other facilities.
Beyond education, the discussions with the IFC also covered opportunities to expand commercial agriculture, particularly in cocoa, oil palm and poultry.
President Mahama said the government also reaffirmed its commitment to increasing local processing of Ghana’s raw materials as part of its industrialisation agenda.
He said the government’s policy is to process at least 50% of Ghana’s cocoa, agricultural produce and mineral resources locally, with the aim of creating sustainable employment opportunities for young people and retaining more value within the economy.
