Declining investment in basic education is affecting access-Kintampo North MP alleges Contrary to the constitutiona

Member of Parliament for Kintampo North constituency, Honourable Joseph Kwame Kumah has alleged that massive dropout in basic schools is due to the government's inability to invest in infrastructure in schools.

He said the earlier the government directs resources to mitigate the infrastructural challenge, the better it will be.

According to him, contrary to the constitutional provision in Article 38 subsection 2 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana which states that government shall, within two years after parliament first meets after the coming into force of the Constitution, draw up a program for implementation within the following ten years, for the provision of free, compulsory and universal basic education.

In this regard, successive governments are enjoined to commit to achieving the same. Unfortunately, Ghana only makes a remarkable showing under the tenure of the late President, H.E. John Evans Atta Mills where an expenditure per Gross Domestic Product(GDP) ratio of 8.14% in 2011, the highest in the country's history.

It is in this regard that Honourable Joseph Kwame Kumah is raising concern about the expenditure on basic schools and demanding an immediate reversal of the same to encourage many more children back to school.

"It is therefore my humble appeal to the government to take a critical look at basic education in the country and make conscious efforts to address the systematic challenges of inadequate infrastructure, lack of teaching and learning materials, and qualified teachers", he further appealed in a statement at the floor of the House.

Report by Prosper Kwaku Selassy Agbitor