Category: Daily Guide Network

I have watched with keen interest the work of the current Rent Commissioner, Frederick Opoku, who has been touring hostels across the country and raising concerns about the soaring cost of hostel accommodation, which ranges from GHS7,000 to GHS24,000 depending on occupancy rates.

That exercise is a very important one because it has the potential to determine whether some students remain in the classroom or are forced out of school because of their financial circumstances.

While it may be relatively easy to secure university admission today, student accommodation is increasingly becoming a national headache as tertiary admissions continue to rise alongside population growth and housing demand.

As the chancellor of a university, surrounded by hostels with cutthroat rent, I hear heart-breaking stories from students who stretch their financial limits to balance tuition and accommodation costs. At Wisconsin International University College, we have deliberately pegged our hostel fee at GHS3,000 per semester, significantly lower than other private facilities operating around the university.

However, in many university communities, hostel fees have risen far beyond the reach of ordinary Ghanaian families. Parents who are already struggling with tuition, feeding, medical bills, transportation and academic materials are now burdened with accommodation costs that sometimes exceed a worker’s annual salary. The growing cost of living and housing in urban centers continues to affect access to higher education, especially for students from low and middle-income families. For students from disadvantaged backgrounds, this situation is not just inconvenient; it is a direct threat to their education and future.

The situation has become worrying because a substantial portion of students’ financial resources is spent on accommodation, leaving little money available for tuition, medical and academic needs.

The issue also exposes a wider housing deficit confronting the country. Private developers who dominate the student hostel market often justify the high charges with increasing construction costs, utility bills and demand pressures. However, the absence of effective regulation and adequate public investment in student housing has created an environment where prices continue to rise unchecked.

Immediate reforms

As part of measures to address the challenge, the government need to establish a dedicated fund to support the construction of affordable hostels across universities in the country.

Increased investment in student accommodation infrastructure would help reduce pressure on parents and improve access to tertiary education.

The cost of borrowing for investment in hostel infrastructure is substantial, which compels most universities, particularly the private ones to avoid it, leaving students vulnerable to rather exorbitant fees.

Government, university authorities and private hostel operators must therefore work together to find sustainable solutions. Universities should prioritise the expansion of affordable on-campus accommodation.

Pension funds as solution

We need to re-examine our pension laws and open up the use of such funds to invest in the real estate sector to deal with our housing and hostel challenges. The figures from the National Pensions Regulatory Authority tell a striking story about the growing strength of Ghana’s pension sector.

Pension fund assets jumped from GHS61.8 billion in 2023 to a record GHS86.23 billion in 2024, an increase of more than GHS24 billion in just one year. That growth shows that pension funds are no longer merely passive savings pools; they are becoming major sources of long-term capital for national development.

If only 10% of the GHS86.23 billion pension assets, which is about GHS8.6 billion were channeled into purpose-built student accommodation, Ghana could significantly ease the university hostel crisis. Unlike short-term investors chasing quick profits, pension funds are naturally suited for infrastructure such as hostels because they generate stable, long-term rental income over decades.

The impact could be transformative. With structured investment, thousands of affordable hostel beds could be developed around major private and public universities where private hostel operators currently dominate the market and charge exorbitant fees.

Increased supply alone would likely force down prices through competition. More importantly, pension-backed hostels could prioritise affordability over excessive profit margins because pension funds generally seek steady returns rather than speculative gains.

Such investments would also create a triple benefit in many ways including students would get safer and cheaper accommodation; pension contributors earn long-term returns from rental income; and the country gains durable educational infrastructure.

Countries such as Kenya and South Africa have increasingly explored pension-backed infrastructure financing, recognising that pension capital can support national development while still protecting contributors’ interests.

Additionally, the government can assist private universities to secure flexible, soft or long-term loan to set up hostels to reduce the outrageous cost of rent from dubious landlords.

While at this, we can also ensure that Rent Control Department must strengthen monitoring mechanisms to prevent exploitative pricing.

Education is one of the strongest tools for national development, and no student should be denied access to it simply because they cannot afford a place to sleep near campus. The conversation the Rent Commissioner has started is therefore timely and necessary, and it must lead to practical reforms that protect students and their families.

Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has criticised the Judiciary for the decision to remand the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, and other members of the opposition party for misdemeanours, describing it as a ‘profound constitutional wrong.’

According to him, the arrest, prosecution and remand of a citizen for words spoken in the public square is not justice but a political persecution which must be condemned without equivocation, apology, and without delay.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin, in a press statement, noted that he does not and will never condone ‘irresponsible speech,’ but Ghanaian law does not provide, and was not designed to convert a civil grievance into a criminal prosecution.

He said the law does not authorise the marching of a man before a Circuit Court, the stripping of his liberty, and his consignment to a state intelligence facility. ‘That is not justice. That is the iron fist of state power wearing a legal glove,’ he stated.

‘Where speech genuinely damages a person’s reputation, Ghanaian law already provides a remedy. A civil remedy. Measured, proportionate and designed precisely for that purpose,’ he pointed out.

Rearrest

Abronye DC was rearrested and remanded into the custody of the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI), on May 13 over alleged offensive conduct and publication of false news following some allegations he made against a Circuit Court Judge at Adenta.

Political Criticism

Mr. Afenyo-Markin, in a statement, pointed out that political criticism of a public official, however sharp, does not meet the threshold of Section 207(1) under which Abronye DC was charged and dragged to court.

He further notes that ‘a man expressing a political opinion about judicial conduct is not publishing false news’ under Section 208(1) of Act 29.

He also took issue with the judge’s decision to remand Abronye DC because the prosecution in its opposition to an oral application for bail had claimed that the accused was likely to commit the same offence if granted bail.

‘When a court denies bail not to serve justice, but to serve silence, it has administered political censorship from the bench. And that, with the greatest of respect, is a betrayal of every principle that gives judicial office its authority, its dignity and its legitimacy,’ he argues.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin further revealed that on the basis of information available to him, at the time of issuing the statement, no signed and certified remand order has been produced by the court registry, wondering on what authority officials of BNI remanded Abronye DC.

Criminal Libel/Culture of Silence

Meanwhile, the Minority Leader has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of reintroducing the Criminal Libel Law which was repealed in 2001 through ‘the back’ in order not to attract international condemnation.

He argues that the government is hiding behind Section 207 and 208 of Act 29 to silence Ghanaians who criticise it.

‘The charges against Abronye DC, Baba Amando, David Essandoh, and others are, in substance and in effect, criminal libel prosecutions. The only difference is the label on the charge sheet,’ he said.

‘The intent is the same. The mechanism is the same. The consequence is the same. Arrest. Remand. Imprisonment. Silence,’ Mr. Afenyo-Markin added.

The Minority Leader further indicated that the NDC government is gradually introducing a culture of silence in Ghana, but was quick to point out that such an attempt will not succeed.

He noted that the John Mahama administration has calculated that intimidating NPP communicators and silencing its regional leadership will allow it to govern without accountability and shield its mounting incompetence from scrutiny, stating that ‘that calculation is profoundly wrong. And it will fail.’

Judicial Fairness

The Minority Leader has called on the Judiciary to rise to the accession and protect the rights and liberties of citizens, irrespective of the political climate it finds itself in.

According to him, Ghanaians look to the courts as the last line of defence when the Executive overreaches.

He said that trust is earned by the fearless and impartial application of constitutional principle, especially when the person before the court is politically inconvenient to those in power.

‘A court that reserves its constitutional courage for safe and inconsequential cases, and abandons it precisely when it matters most, has dishonoured the robe,’ he said.

Demands

Mr. Afenyo-Markin is, therefore, calling for the immediate release of Abronye DC from BNI custody, arguing that his detention is constitutionally indefensible and ‘must end today.’

He also stated that the NPP’s legal team will mount a full constitutional challenge to this prosecution, including a challenge to the application of Sections 207 and 208 of Act 29 against political speech where civil remedies are available and adequate.

Again, he said Parliament’s Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee must summon the Inspector General of Police and the Director-General of the BNI to publicly account for every decision taken in this matter.

He also called on the High Court to take urgent cognisance of Mr. Abronye’s detention and the reported absence of a signed and certified remand order.

He added that ‘The day of justice and accountability will come. It will come under this Parliament, or the next. But it will come. That is not a promise. That is a constitutional certainty.’

The IMF

The cedi is the world’s best-performing currency. Reserves are at record highs. Inflation is in single digits. Gold is working for Ghana’s people for the first time in memory. With numbers like these, Ghana entering talks for an 18th IMF programme is not just a policy question – it is a question about who Ghana believes it is.

Not long ago, Ghana’s President stood before the Zambia National Assembly and held his country up as proof that something was changing in Africa. Inflation had dropped from over 23 percent to 3.8 percent. The cedi had appreciated by 32 percent and ranked among the five best-performing currencies on earth. Debt had been restructured. The economy was breathing again. ‘We are steadily exiting the IMF’s Extended Credit Facility with dignity,’ he said, ‘as partners, not as supplicants.’

He was not wrong. The recovery was real. The numbers were real. Ghana had genuinely done something remarkable. Which is precisely why the reports now emerging – that Ghana is in talks to enter yet another IMF programme – deserve not outrage, but a very serious, very honest question: why?

Not as an accusation. As a genuine inquiry. Because if Ghana, with everything it has built in the past two years, still cannot make the case for standing alone, then something is broken that 18 programmes will not fix.

What Ghana Has Actually Achieved

To understand the weight of this moment, you have to understand how far Ghana has come. In 2022, the country was in freefall. Inflation peaked at 54 percent. The cedi was losing value weekly. Reserves had fallen to cover barely two weeks of imports. The government had lost access to international capital markets. The economy, as the President himself later described it, was ‘on its knees.’

What followed was a genuine, data-verified turnaround – one that the World Bank, the IMF, and independent economists have all confirmed. By the end of 2025:

Beyond the headline figures, Ghana built something structural. The GoldBod initiative – a programme to centralise gold purchasing and ensure that Ghana’s mineral wealth returned to Ghana rather than leaking abroad – exceeded every target it set. It mobilised over $10 billion in foreign exchange in its first year. Gold reserves at the Bank of Ghana climbed from 20 tonnes to over 38 tonnes. The trade balance swung to a surplus of $8.5 billion. The fiscal deficit shrank from 7.9 percent of GDP to just 1 percent.

These are not the numbers of a country in distress. These are the numbers of a country that has, for the first time in decades, started making its own natural resources work in its own interest. The President’s declaration in January 2026 – that this would be ‘the last time Ghana goes to the IMF’ and that the country ‘will never again return’ – did not feel like political bravado. Against those numbers, it felt earned.

Ghana built reserves with its own gold. It brought inflation to single digits on its own terms. It turned the cedi into the world’s best-performing currency. So what, precisely, does it still need the IMF to do?

The Case For. And Its Limits.

To be fair, there are legitimate arguments for why Ghana might consider further IMF engagement, and they deserve to be heard honestly rather than dismissed.

Ghana’s debt restructuring is not yet fully complete. A small but meaningful portion of external commercial debt – less than 5 percent of the pre-restructuring total – remains unresolved. The energy sector continues to run deficits that drain foreign exchange and create fiscal pressure. Non-performing loans in the banking sector remain elevated. And commodity prices – the gold and cocoa that have powered this recovery – can turn. Ghana has been here before: strong reserves, positive momentum, and then a global shock that undid years of progress.

There is also the question of signalling. The IMF’s presence – even in a non-financial, advisory capacity through instruments like the Policy Coordination Instrument – can reassure international investors and development partners that Ghana’s reforms are anchored. A country that has just completed a successful programme and chooses a voluntary, non-lending relationship with the Fund is making a different statement than one that is seeking emergency credit.

These are real considerations. They are not nothing. But here is what they are not: they are not a justification for a full lending arrangement, with conditionalities, prior actions, and quarterly reviews negotiated in Washington. And they are not an acknowledgment that Ghana’s own institutions – the GoldBod, the new Fiscal Responsibility Framework, the proposed Independent Fiscal Council – are insufficient to hold the line. The nature of what is being discussed matters enormously, and Ghana’s citizens deserve clarity on that distinction.

Eighteen Programmes. The Same Ending Every Time.

The number 18 is not just a striking fact. It is a diagnosis. Across six decades, 17 IMF programmes have ended, and the structural conditions that drove Ghana to the Fund have reasserted themselves each time. This is the central question that any honest analysis of this moment must confront: what has changed that would make the 18th different from the 17 that came before?

Academic research on Ghana’s IMF history is unsparing on this point. The programmes produce measurable short-term gains – inflation falls, deficits narrow, reserves build – but the effects consistently prove unsustainable after the programme ends. Ghana completed the HIPC process in the early 2000s, received significant debt relief, and within a decade was back at the Fund. The 2015 programme ended. The vulnerabilities it was designed to address – commodity dependence, a narrow tax base, a political budget cycle – were not resolved. By 2022, another crisis.

‘Ghana must break from past governance failures marked by fiscal indiscipline. The country needs to be intentional and bold about breaking away from its repeated reliance on external assistance.’ – World Bank, Policy Notes on Ghana, September 2025.

The World Bank said this not in a moment of crisis, but in September 2025, while Ghana was performing ahead of IMF targets and being praised for its recovery. The timing is significant. The warning was directed not at a failing Ghana, but at a succeeding one – because success is precisely when the temptation to return feels most harmless, and when the cost of doing so is least visible.

President Mahama himself, speaking at an African leaders forum in May 2025, framed the problem with striking clarity. He noted that 22 African nations were at high risk of debt distress, that debt-to-GDP ratios across sub-Saharan Africa had surged from 40 percent in 2015 to over 60 percent in 2025, and that ‘debt can be a catalyst for transformation, but it can also be a source of fiscal fragility and lost sovereignty if not well managed.’ He said those words about Africa. They apply, with particular force, to the country he leads.

The Ministry of the Interior has declared Wednesday, May 27, 2026 as holiday in commemoration of the Islamic Eid-Ul-Adha, as contained in a release authored by the Sector Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak.

This is the date on the Islamic lunar calendar on which Muslims undertake the sacrifice of livestock such as sheep, camels, goats or cows. It commemorates the test of Prophet Abraham’s faith when he was asked to sacrifice his son Ishmael, but just as he was about to do so, a ram appeared on the authority of God. This has become an annual ritual for Muslims across the world. For Muslims undertaking the Hajj, the sacrifice is done on the day of the ascension of Mount Arafat, as part of the Hajj rituals.

The date is preceded by the purchase of livestock by those who can afford it. It also features the appearance of makeshift livestock markets across the country. At this time of the year, livestock traders bring in ruminants from countries such as Nigeria and Niger for sale in Ghana.

Eid-Ul-Adha is the second Islamic festival which comes after Eid-Ul-Fitr. The latter is one which climaxes the month-long fasting by Muslims.

A FIRE outbreak has claimed the life of a 70-year-old woman, gutted four cars and caused massive destruction to other properties at Suame Magazine, the biggest vehicles repair hub in the Ashanti Region.

The deceased, who has been identified as Madam Bawama Naya, was said to have been trapped by the dangerous inferno, which started at the Suame Magazine Zone 18 near the Garages in Kumasi at 3:22 a.m. on Saturday.

Naya’s charred body has since been deposited in the morgue for preservation by the police, as the appropriate authorities are investigating what caused the blaze.

A press release by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ashanti Regional Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), DO III Atta-Aheng Mensah, said firefighters were dispatched to the fire scene immediately they heard about the blaze.

According to him, ‘Upon arrival, the fully developed fire had engulfed three (3) wooden structures, three (3) metal containers, four (4) vehicles, and nine (9) DAF vehicle engines.

‘The responding crew immediately adopted both offensive and defensive firefighting strategies, successfully bringing the fire under control at 0359 hours and fully extinguishing it at 0451 hours using water and foam.

‘Tragically, Madam Bawama Naya, aged 70, was trapped in the fire and lost her life. Her charred body was handed over to officers from the Suame District Police Command for preservation and further investigation.’

He said through the swift intervention and coordinated efforts of the firefighters, three Sprinter buses, one ‘Smiling’ Benz bus, and one ‘Opanka’ bus were successfully salvaged from the fire, adding, ‘The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.’

In order to avert such fire outbreaks in future, DO III Atta-Aheng Mensah sternly warned the public, notably operators within industrial and commercial enclaves, to strictly adhere to basic fire safety measures at all times.

The Medical Students Association (MSA) of the Family Health University (FHU) has presented over 2,000 menstrual pads to selected female students from Basic Schools in the Ledzokuku Municipality in the Greater Accra Region at a special ceremony last Friday.

Each of the 650 girls received a three-month supply of menstrual pads to help them manage their menstruation safely, so they do not miss school for lack of pads.

The event, which was the third edition, had the theme ‘Supporting menstrual health, securing the future of girls’ and dubbed ‘Pad a girl initiative,’ was organised by the Medical Students Association of the Family Health University in collaboration with the Ledzokuku Municipal Education Directorate.

The presentation of the pads and the health education was part of activities marking this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day, which is celebrated on May 28 every year.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Ledzokuku Municipal Director of Education, Mrs. Theresa Tetteh, was full of praise for the medical students and the Family Health University for their regular support to the girls in the municipality.

She used the occasion to commend all stakeholders who keep collaborating with the Ghana Education Service towards the training and the promotion of education in the municipality and the country as a whole.

‘Your period is not a weakness. It is a sign of good health. It is not a reason to stay home. It is not a reason to be teased. You deserve to manage it with safety and pride. ‘Pad the Girl’ is not just about handing out products to the girls. It is about handing back days, dignity, and dreams,’ she stated.

Dr. Leticia Appiah, Community Health Department at the Family Health University said, ‘Supporting menstrual health is a shared responsibility. When we ensure that every girl has access to sanitary products, proper education, and a supportive environment, we are not just addressing hygiene needs but we are protecting education, confidence, and future opportunities.’

She explained that a girl should never have to choose between her dignity and her schooling, and by standing together, they were securing a healthier, stronger, and more equitable future for all girls.

The President of the Medical Students Association, Bernard Opoku Jnr, commended the various sponsors for supporting them so they could also assist the female students with the pads.

Madam Issahaku Humu, Girl Education Officer for the Ledzokuku Education Directorate, said the proper upbringing of the girl child was the responsibility of all, and called for more support towards the welfare of both girls and boys.

She pledged to continue collaborating with various institutions towards the proper upbringing and training of all children, irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, religion, political and other affiliations.

The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has emphasised the need for MTN Ghana to match its market leadership with improved service quality, fair pricing, and expanded network access.

Speaking at MTN Ghana at 30 press launch held on May 14, 2026, at MTN House, the Minister called on MTN Ghana to improve their internet services and fair pricing because, despite being a market leader, there’s a need to match their position with better quality and accessibility. He encouraged them to leverage their success to benefit consumers, ensuring they get value for their money.

The Minister highlighted the persistent consumer concerns, including the high cost of data, inconsistent network coverage in rural areas, dropped calls, and delays in resolving customer complaints. He urged the company to ensure that its ongoing investments translate into tangible improvements for consumers.

He stressed that MTN’s designation as a Significant Market Power (SMP) operator comes with heightened responsibility. ? ?’That designation is not a criticism; it is recognition of your scale. But it also means the public and the Ministry will hold MTN to a higher standard in pricing, quality of service, network availability, and transparency,’ the Minister stated.

He further pointed to emerging opportunities in 5G, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things, urging operators to invest not only in profitable areas but also in underserved communities.

MTN Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Stephen Blewett, stated that the company will aggressively pursue Ghana’s upcoming spectrum auction for its 5G expansion. He said the company remained committed to expanding next-generation connectivity under its ‘Ambition 2030’ strategy, but would move on to 5G only once the regulatory process was complete.

Mr. Blewett indicated that MTN intended to compete for spectrum in the 3.5 GHz and 26 GHz bands, the government plans to auction this year, and that a successful bid would unlock rapid deployment of 5G infrastructures to support artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and advanced digital services.

MTN Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, Adwoa Wiafe, said MTN’s three decades of operations in the country should be measured through impact on health, education, and community development rather than through commercial metrics alone.

??Skysat Technologies Ghana Limited in partnership with Konica Minolta, has unveiled highly anticipated Konica Minolta Print Experience Centre, giving local, corporate and production print sectors direct access to next-generation and AI embedded imaging technology.

??Speaking during the launch, the General Manager of Konica Minolta, Vibin Lesley Alexander, highlighted the ‘amazing’ productivity and colour enhancement capabilities of the printing machines, stressing that the technology goes beyond standard printing through industrial ‘add-on value’ such as embossing and UV oiling.

??He announced expansion plans to establish branches in Kumasi and eventually extend services across the country.

??According to him, the move is backed by extensive market research aimed at providing solutions tailored to the Ghanaian market.

??’As part of the launch promotions, customers booking machines during the period will receive a 10 percent discount and a one-year free service contract with price protection on consumables,’ he said.

??’Existing Konica Minolta users are also expected to benefit from a dedicated recovery initiative that offers free service inspections and maintenance support to restore older machines to factory setup standards,’ he added.

?For his part, the Head of Sales, Skysat Technologies Ghana, Richard N. Gyimah, noted that modern organisations now demand accountability and data protection beyond the traditional print, photocopy and scan functions.

??He explained that the new machines come with embedded reporting tools, secure print systems, data encryption, AI-powered features and cloud integration to improve security and monitor usage.

??’In the modern world, security is of essence, so unlike the older models, the latest innovations incorporate AI-powered technologies and cloud integration to ensure security and accountability,’ he stated.

??He further indicated that the machines are designed to reduce the cost per print while maintaining high-quality output through advanced symmetry technology and artificial intelligence.

??He assured their clients of strong after-sales support through qualified engineers, genuine spare parts availability, quarterly preventive maintenance and hands-on customer training.

??The Manager for Business Development Distributor Sales Group at Konica Minolta, Ugur Bozat mentioned that, the initiative seeks to rethink printing in the country by focusing on quality packaging, industrial printing and Managed Print Services.

??He therefore announced plans to introduce a loyalty card programme aimed at creating what he described as a ‘win-win situation’ for customers and clients.

The Former Minister for Education, Yaw Adutwum, who graced the event described the Konica Minolta and Skysat Group partnership as a game changer for Ghanaian businesses, highlighting its affordable high-speed printing solutions for small businesses, schools, and event planners.

He noted that the print experience centre would allow users to access advanced printing services without owning the equipment, making quality packaging, brochures, and educational printing more accessible.

The AI-powered printing machines

Parents, teachers, and policymakers have been urged to prioritise the development of the boy child to help build stronger families and peaceful communities for sustainable national development.

Speaking at an event to mark the celebration of the International Day for the Boy Child in Accra, Vice-Chancellor of Pentecost University, Apostle Prof. Kobena Agyapong-Kodua said that neglecting boys in conversations about education, leadership, and moral formation could have serious consequences for society.

International Day of the Boy Child is celebrated on May 16 each year. The day recognises the importance of boys’ well-being and the challenges they face, while also celebrating the positive aspects they bring to their communities and families.

Apostle Prof. Kodua, who described the boy child as a future leader whose development shapes the destiny of the nation, said boys who are properly nurtured flourish for families to thrive.

He said, ‘The boy child is a future father, husband, teacher, minister, president, scientist, engineer, doctor, farmer, and leader. If we deny them opportunities, we are denying ourselves our future.’

He further warned against the implications of social media addiction, and challenged schools to shift young people from merely consuming technology to developing innovative digital tools, while calling on parents to spend quality time with their sons, involve them in family responsibilities, and intentionally build their skills

‘Let us become living examples to these young men because if we do, we will be building them up for a brighter future,’ he stated.

National Coordinator of the Schools Outreach Ministry of the Church of Pentecost, Pastor Frank Tandoh, for his part, noted that although significant efforts have been made to empower the girl child, growing concerns remained about the declining educational outcomes of boys.

He said though society support the empowerment of the girl child, people must also address the imbalance affecting boys, given how many boys are dropping out of school in recent times.

‘If we neglect the welfare of the boy child, society will become tilted and unable to function at its optimum level,’ he pointed out.

Director for Girls Education at the Ghana Education Service, Madam Gifty Asiedu, said emerging global evidence indicates that boys in many countries are increasingly vulnerable to school disengagement, poor literacy outcomes, suspensions, and lower participation in higher education.

She noted that the Ghana Education Service was adopting inclusive approaches that support all vulnerable learners rather than creating competing narratives between boys and girls.

‘Educational vulnerability is evolving, and it affects boys and girls differently depending on context, poverty levels, and family circumstances,’ she stressed.

‘Our focus is to build an education system that identifies and supports every vulnerable learner,’ she added.

The International Day for the Boy Child was held under the theme ‘Flousrish and Thrive: Investing and Unleashing Boys for Strong Families and Communities.’

Parents, teachers, and policymakers have been urged to prioritise the development of the boy child to help build stronger families and peaceful communities for sustainable national development.

Speaking at an event to mark the celebration of the International Day for the Boy Child in Accra, Vice-Chancellor of Pentecost University, Apostle Prof. Kobena Agyapong-Kodua said that neglecting boys in conversations about education, leadership, and moral formation could have serious consequences for society.

International Day of the Boy Child is celebrated on May 16 each year. The day recognises the importance of boys’ well-being and the challenges they face, while also celebrating the positive aspects they bring to their communities and families.

Apostle Prof. Kodua, who described the boy child as a future leader whose development shapes the destiny of the nation, said boys who are properly nurtured flourish for families to thrive.

He said, ‘The boy child is a future father, husband, teacher, minister, president, scientist, engineer, doctor, farmer, and leader. If we deny them opportunities, we are denying ourselves our future.’

He further warned against the implications of social media addiction, and challenged schools to shift young people from merely consuming technology to developing innovative digital tools, while calling on parents to spend quality time with their sons, involve them in family responsibilities, and intentionally build their skills

‘Let us become living examples to these young men because if we do, we will be building them up for a brighter future,’ he stated.

National Coordinator of the Schools Outreach Ministry of the Church of Pentecost, Pastor Frank Tandoh, for his part, noted that although significant efforts have been made to empower the girl child, growing concerns remained about the declining educational outcomes of boys.

He said though society support the empowerment of the girl child, people must also address the imbalance affecting boys, given how many boys are dropping out of school in recent times.

‘If we neglect the welfare of the boy child, society will become tilted and unable to function at its optimum level,’ he pointed out.

Director for Girls Education at the Ghana Education Service, Madam Gifty Asiedu, said emerging global evidence indicates that boys in many countries are increasingly vulnerable to school disengagement, poor literacy outcomes, suspensions, and lower participation in higher education.

She noted that the Ghana Education Service was adopting inclusive approaches that support all vulnerable learners rather than creating competing narratives between boys and girls.

‘Educational vulnerability is evolving, and it affects boys and girls differently depending on context, poverty levels, and family circumstances,’ she stressed.

‘Our focus is to build an education system that identifies and supports every vulnerable learner,’ she added.

The International Day for the Boy Child was held under the theme ‘Flousrish and Thrive: Investing and Unleashing Boys for Strong Families and Communities.’