The Ministry of Education has announced plans to initiate the legislative process to amend the Pre-Tertiary Education Act, 2020 (Act 1049), to ensure appropriate representation of recognised faith-based organisations on the Ghana Education Service (GES) Council.

The announcement follows concerns raised by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference over its exclusion from the GES Council.

In a statement dated August 27, 2026, the Ministry acknowledged the important role faith-based educational institutions have played in the development of education in Ghana.

“The Ministry acknowledges the important role played by faith-based educational institutions and their longstanding contribution to the development of education in Ghana,” the statement said.

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

However, the Pre-Tertiary Education Act, 2020 (Act 1049), provides for only one representative of faith-based organisations.

According to the Ministry, it identified the reduction in representation as an anomaly when constituting the GES Council in 2025.

“In constituting the GES Council in 2025, the Ministry 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,” it said.

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The Ministry said the decision was also linked to ongoing engagements with stakeholders as part of government's decentralisation policy on education.

It said it would therefore initiate the necessary legislative process to amend Act 1049 to provide for appropriate representation of all recognised faith-based organisations on the Council.

“The Ministry remains committed to an inclusive, consultative and collaborative approach to education governance and will continue to engage relevant stakeholders in strengthening the education sector,” the statement noted.

The Ministry further expressed appreciation to the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference and other faith-based organisations for their contribution to education in Ghana.

It also called on the organisations to support government in tackling indiscipline in the education sector.

The Ministry urged the faith-based bodies to join government in stemming the growing indiscipline in the education sector while we collectively work to review the legislation.

The proposed amendment, the Ministry said, is intended to address the representation gap and strengthen collaboration between government and faith-based organisations in the governance of pre-tertiary education.

Read the statement below



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