The first year of President John Mahama’s second administration has seen significant steps in translating the New Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto into concrete educational policies, experts say.
Speaking on the ChannelOne TV programme Roundtable Discussion, Kofi Asare, Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, said the government has made “good progress” in mainstreaming campaign promises into actionable policies within the education sector. “The NDC had a very audacious manifesto for education, with about 140 promises,” he said. “It would be unfair to review all of them in the first year, but we can assess their ability to transition manifesto pledges into policies.”
Asare highlighted the successful roll-out of a new education sector medium-term development plan for 2026–2029, following the expiration of the 2021–2025 framework. He noted the government’s continuity within the overarching Education Strategic Plan 2018–2030 as a positive step.
Key policy initiatives already implemented include free tertiary education for persons with disabilities, provision of sanitary towels for girls in schools, and the “no-fee” programme aimed at reducing barriers to education. “There has been good progress in translating big-ticket manifesto items into policies and implementing them,” Asare said.
The assessment comes as civil society monitors the NDC administration’s education agenda and its commitment to sustainable policy continuity.