Direct aid to education by bilateral donors fell by $359m – Prez. Akufo-Addo

• Posted on October 11, 2022October 11, 2022
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

President Akufo-Addo has revealed that direct aid to education by bilateral donors fell by some three hundred and fifty-nine million dollars ($359 million) in countries due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. 

He also said countries reduced their spending on education after the onset of the COVID-

This is not compatible with the objectives of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda for financing sustainable development and the goals of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mr Akufo-Addo said.

Addressing the 215th Meeting of the Executive Board of UNESCO, on Monday, 10th October 2021, in Paris, France, the President said “At this moment, we cannot pick and choose between funding guns and education. We cannot pick and choose between the interests of the present generation and the future of our girls and boys. We cannot choose geopolitical concerns over preserving our cherished cultural heritages, lest we perish universally,” he said.

“Indeed, countries reduced their spending on education after the onset of the COVID-19, and, at the same time, direct aid to education by bilateral donors fell by some three hundred and fifty-nine million dollars ($359 million), which is not compatible with the objectives of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda for financing sustainable development and the goals of the SDGs,” he further said.

He added “We are further informed that prospects for reaching funding target, through voluntary contributions, are uncertain as several long-term donors have already reduced significantly their voluntary contributions to UNESCO due to a change in development cooperation priorities, thereby significantly impacting our planned programme implementation.”

In spite of these challenges, President Akufo-Addo commended UNESCO for the lead role it played in ensuring the success of the Transforming Education Summit, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September this year.

By Laud Nartey