The leadership of School for Life Ghana, an education-focused non-governmental organization, recently paid a courtesy call on the Honorable Upper West Regional Minister, Hon. Charles Lwanga Puozuing Esq. The meeting, held at the Minister’s office, was led by the Project Manager, Mr. Zulyaden Amadu, and the Advocacy and Policy Influencing Officer, Mr. Mohammed Mutaru Alhassan. The purpose of the visit was to congratulate the Minister on his appointment and to introduce him to the organization’s work in the region, particularly the Wa West District, where they have a project running.
During the meeting, the Project Manager highlighted the organization’s efforts to complement the government’s delivery of quality basic education in the region through the Citizens-Led Actions for Educational Accountability and Responsiveness (CLEAR) Project. This project aims to promote community involvement and participation in creating an enabling environment for quality education delivery in the district. As a result, many communities have become more engaged and have started providing local solutions to education challenges whiles demanding for accountability and transparency from duty bearers in their districts.
The Project Manager also called on Minister to consider reviving the Regional Education Performance Review session, which is a platform for the region to appraise and assess progress of education delivery against the performance set targets. He touched on ensuring that the Municipal/District Education Oversight Committees become more functional and effective, giving guidance to education delivery at the districts level.
The Minister expressed his appreciation for the visit and encouraged the organization to continue its efforts in building the capacities of the communities to be in the forefront of education development in their communities. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between NGOs, communities, and the government in improving education outcomes in the region. He therefore committed to ensure that the regional education performance review meeting comes alive works also working with the local assemblies to reactive the M/DEOCs.
In attendance at the meeting were representatives from the Citizens Networks, local advocacy groups mobilized by the organization. The National Convenor, Mr. Christopher Braimah, highlighted several challenges in the region, including inadequate school infrastructure, furniture deficits, irregular school feeding programs, drug abuse, and a lack of teaching and learning resources. He called on the Minister to address these issues and assured him of the Citizens Networks’ willingness to collaborate with the RCC to make positive changes.
The Minister and the School for Life Ghana leadership concluded the meeting on a positive note, expressing their commitment to working together to improve education outcomes in the region.
