OAA President Joel Edmund Nettey Urges Government to Incentivize Alumni Donations for Public School Infrastructure

Joel Edmund Nettey, President of the Old Achimotan Association (OAA), has called on the government to introduce tax rebates and other incentives for alumni and private investors who contribute to public school infrastructure. Speaking at a ceremony for a new dormitory block at Achimota School, Mr. Nettey emphasized that relying solely on the goodwill of individuals is insufficient to bridge the country’s growing educational infrastructure gap. He urged the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the Ministry of Education to formalize benefits that would encourage more private sector participation in supporting the nation's schools.

The urgency of this call is highlighted by the significant surge in student enrollment at Achimota School, which has grown from approximately 2,000 students in 2018 to over 4,900 today. To address the resulting overcrowding, alumnus Ebenezer Saka Addo-Mensah, in partnership with GETFund, funded the construction of the new dormitory block. This project serves as a model for how private-public partnerships can alleviate pressure on school facilities, but Mr. Nettey argued that such contributions should be met with tangible recognition, such as tax credits, to ensure a sustainable flow of private capital into the education sector.

In response, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu expressed support for the initiative and announced a substantial US$250 million allocation aimed at improving infrastructure across various schools nationwide. The Minister acknowledged the critical role of the private sector and alumni in maintaining the quality of education. Similarly, GETFund Administrator Paul Adjei confirmed that measures are being considered to attract more private investment through reward systems. As the government looks to tackle the nationwide infrastructure deficit, the formalization of these incentives could mark a pivotal shift in how Ghana finances its public education system.