Education Ministry to amend GES Council law following Catholic Bishops’ protest over representation

The Ministry of Education has announced plans to amend the law governing the Ghana Education Service (GES) Council to restore adequate representation for recognised faith-based organisations, following concerns raised by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC).

The Ministry said it would initiate the necessary legislative process to amend the Pre-Tertiary Education Act, 2020 (Act 1049), to ensure that faith-based organisations have appropriate representation on the GES Council.

The move follows the GCBC’s concern over the exclusion of the Catholic Church from the current composition of the Council, despite the Church’s longstanding and significant contribution to education in Ghana.

In a statement issued on Thursday, August 27, and signed by the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Apaak, the Ministry acknowledged the important role played by faith-based organisations in the development of education in the country.

The Ministry explained that the Ghana Education Service Act, 1995 (Act 506), originally provided for three representatives of faith-based organisations on the GES Council.

However, the Pre-Tertiary Education Act, 2020 (Act 1049), subsequently reduced the representation to one.

According to the Ministry, the disparity was identified during the process of constituting the GES Council in 2025. It consequently decided to defer the constitution of the Council until the law could be reviewed to provide for broader representation.

“The Ministry, in constituting the GES Council in 2025, noticed this anomaly of inadequate representation of the faith-based organisations and decided to hold on to it until Act 1049 is amended to adequately cater for faith-based institutions,” the statement said.

Catholic Bishops demand return to GES council, link exclusion to indiscipline in schools

The development is significant for the Catholic Church, which has been one of the major providers of formal education in Ghana for generations.

Through its schools and other educational institutions, the Church has contributed substantially to the formation of young people and the development of human capital across the country.

The GCBC had earlier expressed concern that the Church’s absence from the GES Council amounted to inadequate recognition of the role of faith-based organisations in shaping education policy and administration.

The Conference has also linked growing challenges of indiscipline in some schools to the need for stronger collaboration among Government, religious bodies, parents, teachers and other stakeholders in education.The Education Ministry said it had been engaging stakeholders as part of efforts to advance Government’s decentralisation policy in education.

It said the proposed amendment would provide for appropriate representation of all recognised faith-based organisations on the GES Council.

The Ministry reiterated its commitment to an inclusive, consultative and collaborative approach to education governance and said it would continue engaging relevant stakeholders to strengthen the education sector.

It also expressed appreciation to the GCBC and other faith-based organisations for their contribution to the provision and development of education in Ghana.

The Ministry urged faith-based organisations to continue supporting Government’s efforts to address growing indiscipline in schools while the legislative review process is underway.

The proposed amendment provides an opportunity for Government and faith-based education providers to deepen collaboration in the governance and development of pre-tertiary education.

For the Catholic Church, the issue goes beyond representation on a statutory body. It touches on the recognition of the Church’s historical partnership with the State in providing quality education and forming responsible citizens.

The expected legislative review could therefore provide a framework for a more inclusive education governance system in which the contributions, perspectives and experience of recognised faith-based organisations are adequately reflected in national education policy and decision-making.