As Ghana marks Global Action Week on Education (GAWE), prominent civil society organizations including the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocesan Development Office (NABOCADO) and Afrikids Ghana are raising urgent concerns over the lack of a national framework to ensure continued access to education during emergencies.
In a joint appearance on URA Radio’s Sunrise Show, representatives from the two organizations called for immediate government intervention, warning that conflicts, natural disasters, and illegal mining activities are significantly impeding access to quality pre-tertiary education—particularly in Northern Ghana.
Agana Blaise, NABOCADO’s Education Coordinator, and Raymond Ayine, Communications and Advocacy Manager at Afrikids Ghana and Coordinator of the Northern Network for Education Development (NED), highlighted the critical role of education in bridging the persistent development divide between northern and southern Ghana.
“Bridging the development gap between the North and South has long been our advocacy focus, and there is no better way to achieve this than through education,” said Blaise, emphasizing that access to quality learning is a fundamental human right.
The conversation spotlighted several urgent challenges undermining education in Northern Ghana:
Crippled Infrastructure: Many students still learn in overcrowded or structurally unsafe classrooms, often sitting on the bare floor.
Conflict and Insecurity: The spillover of jihadist violence from Burkina Faso has triggered a wave of asylum seekers. The protracted Bawku conflict alone has shut down 47 schools since 2021, displacing over 12,000 students. Similar disruptions in the North East Region have affected nearly 8,700 learners due to chieftaincy disputes.
Climate-related Disasters: Annual floods, dam spillages, and storms—such as one three weeks ago that tore off school roofs—continue to interrupt school calendars and displace communities.
Illegal Mining (Galamsey): Children are increasingly abandoning classrooms for illegal mining, lured by quick profits. This trend is driving child labor and rising rates of teenage pregnancy, in clear violation of the Children’s Act.
Teacher Exodus: Harsh working conditions in the north are prompting many teachers to transfer south, further weakening the education workforce in affected regions.
Digital Divide: The COVID-19 pandemic revealed stark inequalities—only 21% of rural households have internet access compared to 42% in urban areas—limiting opportunities for remote learning during crises.
Raymond Ayine criticized the inequities built into the current educational system, particularly for students in conflict-affected areas.
“We are running a race where there is no equity, where the field is not level for all of us,” he stated, referencing the unfair expectations placed on students sitting national exams despite disrupted learning.
The Global Action Week on Education, spearheaded by the Global Campaign for Education (GCE), calls for a policy-driven, inclusive approach to educational resilience. It aims to bring together policymakers, educators, students, and communities to ensure learning continues even in times of crisis.
Ayine emphasized the state’s duty under Ghanaian law:
“It is government’s core responsibility to make sure that every child has an opportunity to learn. In fact, it is almost criminal for a parent not to educate a child in Ghana,” he said, citing the Children’s Act.
To address these complex challenges, NABOCADO and Afrikids Ghana are urging a coordinated, multi-sectoral response involving government, parliament, and the media. Their recommendations include:
Developing a comprehensive national policy on education in emergencies, addressing health crises, conflict, natural disasters, and displacement.
Ensuring psychosocial support for learners and educators affected by trauma and instability.
Prioritizing the recruitment and training of local educators, and introducing accelerated training programs (“flash training”) for unqualified teachers in emergency settings.
Investing in digital learning infrastructure and crafting alternative assessment methods for students unable to sit standardized exams due to crises.
Strictly enforcing child protection laws and deploying targeted interventions to eliminate child labor in mining zones.
As active members of the Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC), both organizations have pledged to intensify media engagement and community outreach in the coming months. Their mission is to mobilize public support and drive policy change for a fairer, more resilient education system that leaves no child behind.
