By Philip Antoh
The Deputy Minister for Education, Hon. Clement Abas Apaak, has urged African countries to enhance cooperation and take strong, Africa-led measures to eliminate learning poverty and create resilient education systems by 2035.
He made this appeal during the closing ceremony of the 2025 Triennale of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), which took place at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra marking the first time Ghana has hosted this continental event.
The three-day conference was centered around the theme “Strengthening Resilience of Africa’s Education Systems: Advancing Towards Ending Learning Poverty by 2035 with a Well-Educated and Skilled Workforce.”
Hon. Apaak, speaking on behalf of the Vice President, Her Excellency Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, praised ADEA and the participating nations for their shared dedication to educational reform.
He expressed heartfelt gratitude to all delegates, international partners, and organizers for the summit’s success.
“During the last three days, we have discussed, innovated, and committed to transforming education across our continent,” he stated, noting that the conversations centered on digital reforms, data-driven interventions, domestic funding mobilization, school leadership, and collaboration among stakeholders.
He emphasized the advancements Ghana has made in educational reform, mentioning programs like the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), the Student Loan Trust Fund, and the System Change Architecture for Learning Excellence (SCALE).
This collaborative initiative has raised $40 million from partners such as the Jacobs Foundation and UBS Optimus Foundation to improve foundational learning for over two million children in 15,000 schools.
Hon. Apaak supported the Vice President’s appeal for African nations to depend more on local resources for educational reform.
“Although this may seem difficult, I believe that with dedication, we can gather enough local resources to supplement the aid from our development partners,” he emphasized.
He thanked the Education Ministers from various African countries, the African Union, the African Development Bank, and development partners like UNICEF, UNESCO, the Mastercard Foundation, and the Gates Foundation for their involvement and contributions.
The Deputy Minister also commended the Local Organizing Committee, led by Professor K.T. Oduro, for their outstanding efforts in making the event successful, and praised the Labadi Beach Hotel management for their warm hospitality.
“As we leave, let’s turn our discussions into real actions as leaders at national, regional, and continental levels,” he urged.
“The resilience we aim for starts with us as policymakers, educators, funders, and citizens. Let the Accra Triennale inspire the change we all want to see.”
Hon. Apaak concluded his speech by encouraging everyone to carry the spirit of the Triennale beyond Ghana: “Remember to take a piece of Ghana with you — to South Africa, to Botswana, to Benin, to Mauritius, and to all our neighboring countries. Let’s put our words into action. Long live Ghana, long live Africa, and long live ADEA.