The Minister for Education, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, has committed to a comprehensive overhaul of funding for special needs education in Ghana, pledging stronger financial support and improved learning conditions for learners with disabilities.

Speaking at a meeting with heads of special needs and integrated schools, the Minister stressed the urgent necessity for a more structured and reliable funding model tailored to the needs of children with disabilities.

“We are preparing a Cabinet Memo for the attention of the President and my colleagues in Cabinet to take a major decision on the future of special needs education in Ghana,” he stated.

Mr Iddrisu revealed that the government is considering allocating between GHs 65 million and GHS100 million annually to support special needs learners.

The funding is expected to come from the Ghana Free Education Fund (GFAN).

As part of these reforms, the Minister said he is considering doubling the unfeeded grant from GHS8 to GHS15 per student per day, explaining that this adjustment is essential to meet the rising cost of supporting learners with disabilities.

The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that all learners with special needs benefit fully from Ghana’s free education policy.

Mr Iddrisu underscored the need for substantial investment in critical infrastructure upgrades, increased accessibility in schools, and the provision of modern assistive devices to create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment.

Participants at the meeting were also briefed that the amended GFAN Act will make provision for free tertiary education for all persons with disabilities, further extending educational opportunities across all levels.

Opening the meeting, the Minister encouraged participants to speak candidly.

“Be as brutally frank as possible,” he urged, noting that he would listen to five speakers before leaving for a parliamentary committee meeting on independent constitutional bodies.

The planned reforms signal one of the most ambitious pushes in recent years to transform special needs education and improve equity across Ghana’s educational system.