GES Director-General Links School Financial Governance to WASSCE Performance as Universities Push for Academic Innovation

Professor Smile Dzisi, Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), has issued a stern call for enhanced financial accountability in the Volta Region, linking poor resource management to declining academic outcomes. Speaking at a workshop for educational accountants and bursars, Prof. Dzisi revealed that the 2025 WASSCE results showed 18 schools in the region recorded zero progression rates. She emphasized that financial officers must act as custodians of public resources, ensuring that funds are strategically deployed to improve teaching and learning, particularly in Mathematics and Integrated Science. This push for accountability aligns with the Association of Educational Accountants (AEA) transitioning to International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) to strengthen internal controls within the sector.

Simultaneously, tertiary institutions across Ghana are advocating for a paradigm shift toward innovation and practical application of knowledge. At the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Innovation Day, Vice Chancellor Professor John K. M. Mawutor encouraged students to translate classroom theories into real-world solutions, showcasing student-led ventures like SMART FIRM and the UNIVA360 accounting software. Similarly, Professor Ellis Owusu-Dabo, former Pro-Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, urged the University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (USTED) to redesign postgraduate education. He proposed a move away from traditional thesis models toward hybrid, interdisciplinary research that addresses climate pressures and youth unemployment.

Ethics and integrity have also taken center stage in recent educational discourse. During the University of Gold Coast graduation, Governing Council Chair Professor Pikay Richardson challenged graduates to prioritize character and curiosity over financial success or convenience. This focus on integrity comes amidst public scrutiny of political contributions to education; the New Ghana Social Justice Forum (NGSJF) recently challenged MP Hon. Baba Jamal’s promise of 25% tuition support for law students, labeling it insufficient and demanding 100% coverage to qualify as a true scholarship. Internationally, Ghent University suspended academic Nathan Cofnas following his plagiarism allegations against the late Cambridge professor Jason Arday, highlighting the rigorous standards governing academic conduct.

Finally, the role of specialized education in national development was highlighted by Dr. Francis Kofi Korankye-Sakyi of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre. Addressing 123 graduates at the Institute of Paralegal Training and Leadership Studies, he advocated for ADR as a vital tool for accessible justice and peaceful coexistence. These collective developments across the educational landscape—from financial reforms in secondary schools to innovative research in universities—underscore a national drive toward creating a more accountable, resilient, and impact-oriented educational system for Ghana.