Ghana's education system needs review to improve sports – Kojo Addae Mensah

The Group Chief Executive Officer for Databank Group, Kojo Addae Mensah has called for a comprehensive review of Ghana’s education system, arguing that its current structure has contributed to challenges in sports development.

Speaking at the UG Sports Dialogue, he said the country’s sporting challenges go beyond funding, insisting that the education system itself needs to be examined to create an environment that supports the development of young sporting talents.

“It’s not about the money; it’s the system,” he stated, stressing that although inadequate funding has remained a major concern in Ghanaian sports, the country has previously achieved sporting success despite financial constraints.

Questions effectiveness of JHS system

Addae Mensah questioned the effectiveness of the Junior High School (JHS) system introduced in 1987, arguing that the reforms have not achieved their intended objectives.

He recalled that the introduction of the system was partly aimed at making education more practical and allowing students to choose between vocational and academic pathways after three years.

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However, he questioned how many students actually pursue vocational education after completing JHS.

He also pointed to the changing focus of technical universities, arguing that institutions originally established to produce technical graduates are now producing more graduatesin humanities-related disciplines.

Calls for return to previouseducation structure

The sports advocate urged policymakersto reconsider Ghana’s previous educational structure, suggesting that the country should boldly revisit the five-year secondary education system.

He maintained that the structure of education has implications for sports development and called for a dispassionate national discussionon the reforms and their long-term impact.

He believes a review of the system could help address some of the underlying challenges affecting the development of sports in Ghana.

Sports enthusiast Kojo Addae Mensah, speaking at the UG Sports Dialogue, has called for a comprehensive review of Ghana’s education system, arguing that its current structure is contributing to challenges in the development of sports.

He stressed that Ghana’s sporting challenges go beyond funding, insisting that the structure of the education system itself needs to be addressed.

“It’s not about the money; it’s the system,” he said.

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— GhanaWeb (@TheGhanaWeb) November 12, 2026