World Bank Pledges Significant Support for Ghana’s Economic Revitalization and Education Sector
Accra, Ghana – A high-level delegation from the World Bank Group, led by Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer Paschal Donohoe, has concluded a three-day official visit to Ghana, signaling a strengthened commitment to the nation’s economic recovery, job creation initiatives, and overarching long-term development agenda. This visit, Mr. Donohoe’s inaugural official mission to Africa since assuming his role in November 2025, took place from March 15th to 18th.
During his stay, Mr. Donohoe engaged in a series of crucial meetings with key stakeholders. These included discussions with President John Mahama, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, and the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu. The agenda also encompassed dialogues with senior government officials, prominent leaders from the private sector, representatives of civil society organizations, esteemed members of academia, and various development partners.
Landmark Investment in Secondary Education
A pivotal outcome of the visit was the formal confirmation of a substantial US$300 million commitment from the World Bank to bolster Ghana’s secondary education sector. This significant investment is channeled through the Secondary Education Transformation for Access, Relevance and Results for Jobs (STARR-J) programme. This allocation represents the largest single financial commitment the World Bank has ever directed towards this sector within Ghana.
The announcement was made during a joint visit to the Armed Forces Senior High Technical School in Burma Camp, Accra, alongside the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu. This US$300 million pledge nearly doubles the US$180 million initially discussed during the International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank Spring Meetings held in 2025. The STARR-J programme is slated to commence implementation within the current fiscal year, marking a swift transition from commitment to action.
The STARR-J programme is designed to drive the rehabilitation and expansion of senior high schools and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions across the country. A central tenet of the programme is its strong emphasis on cultivating practical, job-relevant skills training, aiming to bridge the gap between educational outcomes and the demands of the labor market.
This new initiative builds upon the successes of the preceding Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP). GALOP has demonstrably impacted the educational landscape, having successfully trained over 70,000 teachers and directly benefiting more than 3.1 million students, thereby exceeding its initial target of 2.3 million students.
Addressing Skills Mismatch Through Collaboration
Further underscoring the importance of education and its nexus with employment, Mr. Donohoe delivered the inaugural Vice-Chancellor’s Occasional Lecture of 2026 at the University of Ghana. In his address, he passionately advocated for enhanced collaboration between educational institutions and industry stakeholders. His central message revolved around the urgent need to tackle persistent skills mismatches that hinder both individual career progression and national economic growth.
Mr. Donohoe characterized these skills mismatches as a “structural coordination failure,” imploring employers to adopt a more proactive stance in influencing curriculum development and shaping training systems. He emphasized that a concerted effort from both sides of the educational and employment spectrum is vital to ensure graduates are equipped with the competencies required by the modern workforce.
Private Sector-Led Development: A Cornerstone of Growth
The World Bank delegation also participated in a high-level International Finance Corporation (IFC) Business Council meeting, bringing together key private sector leaders. Throughout these engagements, the World Bank Group consistently highlighted the critical role of private sector-led development in Ghana’s long-term growth trajectory. The institution reiterated its conviction that the private sector remains the primary engine for employment creation, not only in Ghana but across the African continent.
Mr. Donohoe reaffirmed the World Bank’s enduring commitment to Ghana, expressing the institution’s readiness to support reforms that are specifically designed to generate jobs, fortify institutional capacities, and foster inclusive economic growth. “The priority now is to work together to implement reforms at scale and ensure that growth translates into real opportunities for all Ghanaians,” he stated, encapsulating the collaborative spirit and forward-looking approach of the World Bank’s engagement with the nation. The visit concluded with a clear mandate for continued partnership and a renewed impetus for implementing impactful reforms.
