Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Apaak, has expressed concern over the construction of school projects without proper toilet facilities, describing it as a serious lapse in the system.
He made the remarks on Monday, January 12, during his appearance before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee in Accra, addressing issues raised about infrastructure projects funded by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
Dr Apaak said the concerns should alarm all stakeholders in the education sector, revealing clear gaps in the planning and execution of school projects. He noted that the absence of sanitation facilities points to weaknesses in oversight and compliance with basic infrastructure standards in both GETFund and MMDA-funded projects.
Highlighting the importance of sanitation, the Deputy Minister stressed that access to proper toilet facilities is critical for the health, safety, and dignity of pupils and teachers.
He assured the committee that the Ministry of Education is aware of the issue and will take steps to ensure that future school projects include necessary sanitation facilities.
“The issues raised by the honourable member should be of grave concern to all of us. Clearly, this exposes gaps in the current system regarding GETFund-funded school projects and those financed by MMDAs. We recognise that sanitation is very important and going forward, we will ensure these lapses are addressed,” he noted.
The Ministry’s intervention comes amid growing calls for stricter monitoring of school infrastructure projects to guarantee students have access to essential facilities.
