President John Dramani Mahama says Ghana has secured a $300 million World Bank financing package to expand senior high school infrastructure and end the double-track system by December 2027.
He announced the package after receiving International Finance Corporation Managing Director Makhtar Diop for talks on Ghana’s cooperation with the World Bank Group.
“Through our collaboration with the World Bank, we have secured a $300 million financing package to permanently end the double-track system in senior high schools by the end of 2027,” Mr Mahama said in a social media post on Thursday, September 17.
Infrastructure gap drives double-track
The double-track arrangement was introduced after enrolment under the Free Senior High School policy grew faster than the available classrooms, dormitories and other facilities.
It allows different groups of students to use the same infrastructure at different periods. The system created space quickly, but disrupted the traditional academic calendar and became unpopular with some parents, teachers and students.
The government has previously stated its intention to phase out double-track by 2027.
The latest financing announcement puts a figure behind that promise, though details on the number of beneficiary schools and specific projects have not yet been disclosed.
Agriculture also discussed
Mr Mahama said his meeting with Mr Diop also covered commercial agriculture, including cocoa, oil palm and poultry production.
He reiterated the government’s plan to process at least 50% of Ghana’s cocoa, farm produce and mineral resources locally.
“Our discussions focused on deepening our strategic partnership to transform Ghana’s economy,” the President said.
He argued that expanding domestic processing would retain more value in Ghana and create sustainable employment for young people.
The immediate test, however, will be the school infrastructure programme. Ending double-track by the stated deadline will depend on how quickly the financing is released, projects are awarded and facilities are completed.
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