Dr., Minister of Finance, In accordance with Sections 21 and 23 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) and Articles 179 and 180 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, Cassiel Ato Forson presented the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama. With a strong emphasis on youth-centered policies, the budget has received widespread praise as one of the most progressive in recent memory. These initiatives align with President Mahama’s campaign promises and aim to address critical issues affecting Ghana’s youth, including education, skills development, and employment.
The most important youth-focused policies and the budgets for each are broken down in detail below. 1. Allocation of GH499.8 million for the No-Academic-Fee policy for public tertiary institution first-year students. To implement the No-Academic-Fee policy for first-year students in public tertiary institutions, the government has allocated GH499.8 million. Equity in access to higher education is the goal of this initiative, which aims to ease the financial strain on students and their families. It is anticipated that it will benefit over 100,000 students annually, increasing inclusivity and decreasing the number of economically disadvantaged youth who drop out of school. 2. GH¢292.4 million: Allocation for the distribution of free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools.
The distribution of free sanitary pads to girls in primary and secondary schools has received GH292.4 million from the budget in order to address menstrual hygiene management and increase female students’ attendance at school. Over 2 million female students will benefit from this policy, which will help create a conducive learning environment and advance gender equality in education. 3. 3.5 billion Ghanaian francs are allotted for the free secondary education program. To maintain and expand the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy, GH3.5 billion have been allocated to the Free Secondary Education Program. This funding will cover tuition, boarding, and other related expenses, ensuring that approximately 1.2 million students have access to quality secondary education.
The program aims to give all Ghanaian youth equal opportunities and raise literacy rates. 4. GH 564.6 million: Allotment for the comprehensive distribution of free textbooks based on curriculum. An allocation of GH¢564.6 million has been made for the comprehensive provision of free curricula-based textbooks to students in basic and secondary schools.
Over 6 million students will have access to essential learning materials as a result of this initiative, improving education quality and academic performance nationwide. 5. Allocation for the School Feeding Program: GH1.788 billion. To provide students in public basic schools with healthy meals, the School Feeding Programme has received GH1.788 billion. Over 3.5 million children will gain from this initiative, which aims to increase enrollment, attendance, and retention rates. The program helps young students achieve better health and educational outcomes by addressing hunger and malnutrition. 6. GH¢203 million: Allocation for the payment of teacher trainee allowances.
The government has set aside GH203 million to pay teacher trainee allowances in order to help the next generation of educators. Around 40,000 teacher trainees will benefit from this policy, which will address the nation’s shortage of qualified teachers and encourage them to pursue careers in education. 7. Allocation of GH480 million for the payment of allowances to nursing trainees. Similarly, GH¢480 million has been allocated for the payment of nursing trainee allowances.
Over 30,000 nursing trainees will receive financial assistance through this initiative, ensuring the training of skilled healthcare professionals and addressing critical healthcare workforce shortages. 8. 300 million Ghanaian shillings are allotted to the National Apprenticeship Program. Through apprenticeship opportunities in a variety of trades, the National Apprenticeship Programme has received $300 million to provide young people with technical and vocational skills. Over 100,000 youth are anticipated to benefit from this initiative, which is expected to provide them with employable skills and lower unemployment rates. 9. 100 million Ghanaian ghana: allotment for the “Adwumawura” Program The ‘Adwumawura’ Programme, which aims to create job opportunities for young people in infrastructure development projects, has been allocated GH¢100 million.
In addition to addressing youth unemployment, this initiative will employ over 50,000 young people in road, housing, and sanitation projects. 10. 100 million Ghanaian francs are allotted to the National Coders Program. The National Coders Programme, which will teach young Ghanaians software development, coding, and digital skills, has received GH100 million from the government. Over 20,000 youth are anticipated to gain benefit from this initiative, which aims to position Ghana as a technology and innovation hub. The program will foster a tech-savvy workforce and drive digital transformation across various sectors.