How Asantehene Influenced Release Of GALOP Fund From World Bank
The US$ 218.7 million Ghana Accountability Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP) fund was released by the World Bank only after the intervention of the occupant of the Golden Stool, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Ghana nearly missed out on the fund meant for a five-year project to improve the quality of education in low-performing basic education schools and strengthen education sector equity and accountability.
This is because the World Bank decided against releasing the fund but for the intervention of the King, it was made available.
This was disclosed by the Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum on Wednesday, December 13, 2023.
“Otumfuo you facilitated the release of the fund by the World Bank. At a point, they didn’t want to give us the $20 million. The head of the World Bank decided he wasn’t going to give it to us but then Otumfuo intervened and they released the fund,” he said at a meeting with the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs.
He noted that the fund is used to conduct the National Standardised Test (NST) for Primary 2 and 4 learners in Literacy and Numeracy.
The results of the test, which has been taken twice across the country, provide statistics that enable authorities to determine the academic performances of students based on regions, districts and schools.
The Ministry has decided to give copies of results covering schools in their realms to paramount chiefs in the Ashanti Region.
He said the decision is aimed at involving chiefs in the administration of the educational sector once again.
The move, he believes, will equip traditional authorities with the requisite information to check head teachers in their jurisdictions as well as contribute to needed infrastructures in schools.
“We have decided to give copies of the results to paramount chiefs. It will serve as a check on head teachers and push them to up their game. We need your help and we will get it only when we inform you about what is going on.”
Commending the minister for his work, Otumfuo urged the paramount chiefs to follow up when the results are made available.
