Uncapping GETFund lacks clear justification – Abena Osei Asare
Accra, March 12, 2025 – Former Deputy Finance Minister and MP for Atiwa East, Abena Osei Asare, has expressed strong reservations over the government’s decision to uncap the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) in the 2025 Budget.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, the lawmaker questioned the rationale behind this move, arguing that it could violate constitutional provisions and divert funds meant for educational infrastructure toward other government expenditures.
Key Concerns Raised
✔ Possible Unconstitutionality: Osei Asare warned that reallocating GETFund resources beyond its legislated purpose could be a legal breach.
✔ Misalignment with GETFund’s Core Mandate: She argued that GETFund was established primarily for educational infrastructure development, not recurrent expenditures such as food supplies under Free SHS.
✔ Lack of Clarity in Government Justification: She noted that the government had not clearly explained how uncapping GETFund would align with its stated goals.
✔ Reallocation of Oil Revenue: The MP also highlighted that funds previously used from oil revenue for education in 2024 had been redirected to the Big Push Programme, leaving questions about how Free SHS would now be funded.
Government’s Position
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, in presenting the 2025 Budget on March 11, announced that uncapping GETFund was part of a broader expenditure restructuring under oil revenue realignment. However, this has sparked concerns about how educational projects and policies would be sustained under the new framework.
Implications for Ghana’s Education Sector
Osei Asare cautioned that shifting GETFund’s focus could weaken long-term educational infrastructure projects and create funding gaps for key initiatives.
“The government cannot say that the uncapped GETFund is what they will use to fund Free SHS, because when you look at the GETFund Act, it is meant for infrastructure, while Free SHS expenses cover goods and services like food and consumables,” she emphasized.
With these concerns in mind, education stakeholders and policymakers are expected to scrutinize the government’s approach and demand further clarity on how educational funding will be safeguarded in the coming years.
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