Dr. Clement Apaak, the Deputy Minister of Education, has stated that while Ghana has a respectable literacy rate of 69.8%, a significant portion of the population is still illiterate.
He noted that data from the 2021 Population and Housing Census by the Ghana Statistical Service shows that the illiteracy rate stands at 30.2%, which he called “a cause of worry to the Government.”
He added that the government will deploy efforts to deal with the situation and further reduce the figure.
Dr. Apaak made these remarks while speaking on behalf of the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, at the 58th International Literacy Day celebration in Tamale.
The event, held at the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Hall, took place on Monday, September 8, 2025.
Education as a National Development Tool
Dr. Apaak, who is also the Member of Parliament for Builsa South, emphasised that no country can achieve development without prioritising education, calling it an essential tool for national development.
He acknowledged that while the current era has improved many aspects of life, some citizens lack the literacy skills needed to fully participate in the digital economy.
He stated, “Illiteracy has crowded out these sections of citizens from exploring and exploiting opportunities within their space.”
He reiterated that the 30.2% illiteracy rate is a cause for concern for the government.
He mentioned several government initiatives aimed at improving learning outcomes and reducing what he called “learning poverty,” including the Communities of Excellence Programme (CEP), the Complementary Basic Education (CBE), and the National Standardized Test (NST).
“Although Ghana’s literacy rate is at a respectable level of 69.8 per cent, according to the 2021 Population and Housing Census conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service. Many citizens are still behind the optimal line of illiteracy. Yet the illiteracy rate of 30.2 per cent is a cause of worry to the Government.
Hence, there are various interventions initiated by the Government, such as the Communities of Excellence Programme (CEP), the Complementary Basic Education (CBE) and the National Standardized Test (NST) all aimed at changing the narrative of learning poverty.”
Dr. Apaak also promised the government’s support in strengthening the Complementary Education Agency (CEA) so it can fulfill its core mandate.
Addressing Challenges Faced by the Complementary Education Agency
Dr. Apaak acknowledged the challenges hindering the CEA’s operations.
He stated, “Ladies and gentlemen, the Complementary Education Agency was established to bring about transformative change within the out-of-school sector.”
He reassured attendees that the ministry is making every effort to re-equip and re-staff the agency to enable it to serve as a “third force” in providing literacy in Ghana.
He confirmed that the agency is working closely with the ministry to get its staff migrated to the Public Service and to secure the necessary Legislative Instrument (LI).
He expressed hope that he could provide the necessary support to expedite these documents, as their delay has made it difficult to recruit new staff to replace retirees.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the Complementary Education Agency was established to bring about transformative change within the out-of-school sector.
The Agency faces challenges that hinder its operations; however, the Ministry is making every effort to retool and resource the Agency to fulfil its core mandate as the third force in providing literacy in Ghana.
The Agency is working around the clock with the tacit support of the Ministry to get staff migrated to the Public Service. Additionally, the Legislative Instrument (LI) is also outstanding. The Agency is assured the necessary push to have the document laid before Parliament. I hope to give the needed support for the rectification. These documents hold sway in the activation of promotions and funding of the Agency. Action will be expedited on them, given that the delay in rectifying the documents has made the recruitment of staff to replace retirees difficult. This is hampering the full operation of the Agency. An institution that requires 6,000 staff nationwide is presently operating with a little above 1,700. The shortfall is staggering.”
Dr. Apaak concluded by stressing that the government cannot transform the education sector alone.
He called for collaboration with non-state actors to achieve significant improvements in the education landscape, stating that with the right commitment from all partners, Ghana can create a great story of literacy transformation.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
