Gov’t alone cannot educate every child – Corporate Ghana urged to support education, says NALAG President

The President of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana), Alfred Asiedu Adjei (PAAJOE), has called on Corporate Ghana, development partners, and philanthropic organisations to actively support government efforts in education, stressing that the responsibility of educating Ghanaian children cannot rest on government alone.

He made the appeal at the national launch of NALAG’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Exercise Book Distribution Initiative in Accra, describing it as a major milestone in the association’s 49-year history and a shift toward more impactful local governance.

According to him, the initiative marks the first nationwide CSR programme by NALAG, aimed at supporting basic education across all 16 regions. As part of the project, more than 320,000 branded exercise books have been produced and distributed through Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to pupils across the country.

He said the exercise books go beyond stationery, describing them as tools that represent opportunity and future potential for children who could grow into professionals such as doctors, engineers, judges, and even national leaders.

Adjei emphasised that national development is rooted in education, arguing that countries that progress sustainably invest heavily in human capital formation at the basic level. He noted that infrastructure such as roads and hospitals are important, but education remains the foundation for building capable citizens who sustain national systems.

While commending government for its collaboration with local authorities, he insisted that education requires shared responsibility among all sectors of society.

“Government alone cannot educate every child. NALAG alone cannot transform every community. Educational transformation demands collective effort from the private sector, development partners, civil society, and all Ghanaians,” he said.

He further urged banks, telecom companies, mining firms, manufacturing industries, faith-based organisations, and philanthropic bodies to support education by adopting schools, providing learning materials, establishing libraries, and offering scholarships.

Quoting an African proverb, he stressed that long-term national progress depends on cooperation between stakeholders, adding that collective action is essential for sustainable development.

The NALAG President also reaffirmed the association’s commitment to expanding its CSR initiatives beyond exercise books to broader interventions in education and community development.

On local governance, he commended President John Dramani Mahama for fulfilling commitments regarding Assembly Members’ allowances, while appealing for the release of outstanding 2026 payments. He also called for the distribution of motorbikes to Assembly Members to improve their mobility and effectiveness at the grassroots level.

He concluded by urging Ghanaians to view education as the country’s most valuable investment, stating that national wealth is ultimately measured by the knowledge and potential of its citizens.

The launch of the initiative, he said, signals a new phase of responsive local governance focused on practical interventions to support development at the community level.

Story by Efua Nessa