By: Kenneth Appiah Bani
Education policy analyst and Executive Director of Eduwatch, Kofi Asare, has emphasized the pivotal role of private schools in shaping Ghana’s future, urging stakeholders to embed equity and pursue 21st-century reforms to achieve sustainable national development.
Speaking at the Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) Annual Education Leadership Summit held last Wednesday at Cocoa College, Bunsu, Mr. Asare addressed the theme: “Repositioning Private Schools for Sustainable National Impact.”
He revealed that private schools currently educate one in every four Ghanaian learners, making their contribution central to the nation’s education system. According to him, this enormous responsibility requires private institutions to adopt progressive policies that align with the country’s development agenda.
“To remain true pillars of national development, private schools must embed equity, drive 21st-century reforms, build endowments, and fight examination malpractice,” Mr. Asare stressed. He further highlighted that strengthening institutional structures and ensuring integrity in learning outcomes would not only improve quality but also reinforce public trust in private education.
Mr. Asare, who holds a BA (Hons) and MA from the University of Cape Coast, an LLB from the University of London, and is a Doctoral Candidate at Lincoln (MY), brings over two decades of professional experience to such policy conversations. As Executive Director of Eduwatch, he has provided technical support to strengthen Ghana’s public sector institutions, including Education Sector Institutions (ESIs). His career spans policy support, monitoring and evaluation, governance, and change management on USAID and World Bank projects, particularly in skills development, education decentralisation, and justice reforms.
The summit brought together education leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to deliberate on strategies for improving private education in Ghana. Discussions centered on how private schools could align more effectively with national goals while also building sustainable systems that empower learners.
Mr. Asare concluded by underscoring that the role of private schools is central, and therefore, their responsibility to Ghana’s human capital development is even greater.
