Projects paused not abandoned – GETFund Boss clarifies E-Block controversy

Dr Richard Ampofo Boadu, Administrator of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), provided a detailed account of the government’s approach to managing the E-Block projects that began under the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.

In an interview on Kumasi-based Pure Fm, the host sought clarity on claims from the NDC that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has abandoned the E-Blocks, leaving them in a state of disrepair.

Setting the records straight, Dr. Boadu explained that the E-Block projects—designed to address secondary school overcrowding—are split between two managing bodies: GETFund and the World Bank.

“We have 101 E-Blocks under GETFund’s management, while the World Bank oversees another 23,” he clarified.

Dr. Boadu emphasized that, at the time the NDC left office in December 2016, only 22 of these GETFund projects had been completed.

“The NPP has taken significant steps, completing 16 additional E-Blocks as of September 2024,” he continued.

“These projects require considerable funding, and without a solid fiscal backing, completing them isn’t feasible. This is not neglect; it’s a matter of resources.”

Addressing Fiifi Adinkra’s query on why some E-Blocks remain unfinished, Dr. Boadu revealed that the Ministry of Education had strategically paused the projects, particularly for 27 sites where land acquisition and structural preparation were incomplete.

“The decision to hold off on certain projects was not out of disregard,” he explained. “It was a necessary move to conserve funds and avoid wasting resources on projects that weren’t ready to move forward. In this context, the NDC’s claims are misplaced.”

Dr. Boadu admitted that the delay has frustrated some contractors, leading them to step away.

“Some contractors understandably lost patience due to these pauses, and that has affected the pace of work,” he noted.