Government has earmarked GH¢100 million for the country’s 10 technical universities under the 2027 GETFund formula.
Each institution expected to receive GH¢10 million to support infrastructure and development within the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector.
Announcing the intervention at the opening of the 2026 Applied Research Conference of Technical Universities of Ghana (ARCTUG 2026) at Takoradi Technical University on May 26, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu said the directive had been issued by President John Dramani Mahama as part of efforts to reposition technical education as a major driver of innovation and industrial growth.
“President John Dramani Mahama has accordingly directed me to further direct the Administrator of GETFund into his 2027 formula to make an allocation of GH¢100 million GH¢10 million to each of your technical universities as your seed money and distress money,” the Minister announced
He stressed that the intervention is not a political pledge, but a commitment government intends to honour. “And you know the difference. It is not one of those political promises,” he stated.
Mr. Iddrisu pointed to previous interventions by government to underscore what he described as President Mahama’s commitment to higher education financing. “Last year President Mahama promised five universities; each of them has received GH¢10 million,” he said.
The Minister further disclosed that GETFund has been directed to release additional support to newly established public universities. “Only yesterday, I requested GETFund to release GH¢10 million to the University for Sustainable Development in Somanya and GH¢5 million to the University of Agriculture and Engineering Sciences at Bonsu to start life,” he revealed.
Beyond the immediate allocations, the Education Minister announced plans for what he described as a landmark financing framework for TVET in Ghana through the establishment of a dedicated TVET Fund.
“The most profound policy comment I am before Cabinet with, and which all of us, if we are lucky, will celebrate as an enduring legacy of President John Dramani Mahama for Ghana and technical education, is for Ghana to have a dedicated TVET Fund,” he stated.
According to him, the Education Ministry is seeking Cabinet approval for 10 per cent of GETFund resources to be reserved for technical and vocational education.
“So mathematically, if you did GH¢9.9 billion, it means some GH¢900 million can be available for technical education, which will respond to your most pressing needs of infrastructure and financing for tools and equipment,” he explained.
Mr. Iddrisu also disclosed that government is considering allocating 2.5 per cent of total oil revenue to support technical and vocational education financing. “If we get 2.5 per cent, then technical education would have been assured of adequate sustainable financing.”
Mr. Iddrisu also assured that the Jomoro College of Education at Ezinlibo in the Western Region would receive infrastructure support similar to facilities recently commissioned at Bawku. “Be assured that the Jomoro College of Education at Ezinlibo will receive the same infrastructure that President Mahama commissioned in Bawku two days ago.”
ARCTUG 2026 is being hosted by Takoradi Technical University under the auspices of the Vice-Chancellors of Technical Universities of Ghana (VCTU-G) on the theme: “Advancing TVET for Innovation, Technology Transfer, and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development.”
The five-day conference, running from May 25 to 29, brings together researchers, policymakers, industry players, faculty and students to discuss applied research and the future of technical education in Ghana.
Source:3news.com