Mahama Promises To End No-Textbook Phenomenon In Schools

President John Dramani Mahama has promised to address the long-standing issue of inadequate textbooks in Ghanaian schools, a problem he says has left many students struggling to access the necessary resources for quality education.

Speaking at a community outreach program in Tamale, Mahama vowed to eradicate the “no textbook” phenomenon, which has plagued the educational sector for years, leaving many students without essential learning materials.

Mahama announced that his government has allocated GHC564.6 million for textbooks to improve learning for basic school children, adding that the Education Minister is overseeing the implementation of this initiative, ensuring that textbooks are printed locally to boost the Ghanaian economy.

“If you will recall, the previous administration changed the curriculum, and, yet, refused to provide textbooks for our basic school students. This no-textbook phenomenon will end this year.

“Your own son, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu [Education Minister] is responsible for implementing this. And he has assured us that these textbooks are going to be printed by Ghanaian printers so that the money stays here in Ghana. We have allocated resources to provide free sanitary pads for our female students” Mahama noted at Jubilee Park in Tamale on Saturday, March 22, during his ‘thank you’ tour.

Mahama’s vision includes ensuring that every public school, whether in bustling cities or remote villages has sufficient textbooks for students across all subjects, from primary through to senior high school.

He also plans to integrate modern learning resources, such as digital textbooks and online platforms, to complement the traditional learning tools and keep students engaged in a rapidly evolving world.

In another development, he assured the Ya-Na Abukari II, Overlord of Dagbon of his government’s determination to address the issue of lack of water in Yendi and its environs with urgency.

President Mahama also promised to fix the Tamale water crisis by the end of his four-year term, adding that similar efforts would be made to resolve the water crisis in other communities in the Northern Region through sustainable water projects.

He gave assurance of his government’s commitment to implementing initiatives that would provide employment and skills development opportunities for the youth.

He outlined plans for infrastructure development for the region to include an improvement in electricity supply, complete construction of the Eastern Corridor Road to link the Northern Region through Yendi to Accra to enhance transportation, boost trade, and improve economic activities between northern and southern Ghana.

He said his government would invest in afforestation projects to combat deforestation and promote environmental sustainability in the region.

President Mahama expressed gratitude to the Ya-Na and the people of Yendi for their support throughout his campaign and appealed for continued support from the people of Dagbon for his administration.

Ya-Na Abukari II, Overlord of Dagbon Traditional Area, who spoke through an Elder, touched on the lack of potable water at Yendi and its surrounding communities and the negative impact it posed on the lives of the people.

He called on the President to fix the water crisis in the area and urged him to focus on development and creation of jobs to engage the unemployed youth.