Government Disburses GHC2.7 Billion to GETFund, Free SHS Expenditure

Accra: The Government has disbursed a total of GHC2,710,227,947 to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for the months of January through April this year. Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority of Finance, made this announcement in a statement on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday. According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Forson highlighted that funding for the Free Senior High School Programme is now fully covered under the GETFund, as outlined in the 2025 Budget. This move has resolved previous challenges, including feeding issues, which had impeded the smooth implementation of the programme. In addition to the GETFund disbursement, a total of GHC2,033,469,607 has been allocated to the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). The Minister stated that all transfers due to the National Health Insurance Fund for the period covering January to March 2025 have been made. This funding is intended to enable the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to settle arrears owed to healthcare providers and to implement the F ree Primary Healthcare and Ghana Medical Care Trust programme, known as 'Mahama Care'. Dr Forson emphasized that these payments reflect a commitment to fulfilling statutory obligations within priority sectors. He further reported that, under the leadership of President Mahama and the NDC, transfers to all other statutory funds have been made promptly and in full for the first time in several years. The Minister reiterated the government's commitment to the responsible use of taxpayer funds, stating that reckless spending is a thing of the past and that borrowing will only occur when funds are available.