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From Struggles to Success: Rural Ghana’s Education Breakthrough

Published on June 3 2025

In the soft morning light of Ayensuano, 12-year-old Adwoa clutches her exercise book as she walks barefoot to school, her steps steady with purpose. Not long ago, she could barely read simple sentences. Today, she reads aloud in front of her class with confidence.

“I used to be shy because I didn’t understand what was written,” she says. “But now I can read. I even help my little sister with her homework.”

Adwoa’s journey mirrors a growing shift in rural Ghana, where education once meant being in school but not necessarily learning. Despite Ghana achieving over 90% primary school enrollment, communities like Suhum and Ayensuano have struggled for years with poor infrastructure, limited teachers, and complex social barriers. Now, signs of real learning gains are beginning to emerge.

Barriers Beyond the Blackboard
For many rural children, simply getting to school is a victory. But staying there, and succeeding, is a different battle altogether.
At the secondary level, the numbers start to drop. Only about 65% of children move on from primary to Junior High School (JHS), with many pulled out to help on farms, get married early, or due to sheer financial pressure.

“Sometimes, girls don’t come back after vacation,” says Madam Efua Danso, a JHS teacher in Suhum. “You ask around and hear she’s been married or is expecting a child. It breaks your heart.”

Even those who remain often face quality deficits. The World Bank reports that only 35% of primary students in Ghana meet minimum proficiency in reading and mathematics, highlighting a systemic issue in how children are taught and supported.

A New Approach, A Brighter Path
That is where Savana Signatures’ Rural Youth in Ghana Catching Up on Education project stepped in, with a mission to change the narrative.

The project, implemented in Suhum and Ayensuano, focused not only on getting children into school, but making sure they learn, grow, and stay.

Professional development for teachers and school leaders has been a cornerstone. Through training in clinical supervision, learner-centred pedagogy, and the Standard-Based Curriculum, teachers are now better equipped to engage and inspire their students.

But the learning goes beyond academics.
“We teach about emotions, relationships, and personal growth,” says Mr. Ibrahim, a beneficiary teacher involved in the project. “Children now talk about how they feel. They’re more respectful, more confident, and more willing to learn.”

The project placed strong emphasis on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and Reproductive Health Education (RHE), areas often overlooked in rural classrooms. Teachers have been trained to weave emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and reproductive health into everyday lessons.
The outcome? Better behavior, improved attendance, and stronger student-teacher relationships.

“Before, I didn’t know how to say what I was feeling,” says 13-year-old Evans Kofi. “Now I tell my teacher when I’m sad or scared. She listens.”

Communities That Care True to its community-based approach, Savana Signatures ensured that the project also tackles the social and cultural challenges that affect learning, particularly for girls.

Savana Signatures has organized 45 community meetings, opened dialogue on issues like teenage pregnancy, child marriage, and parental neglect, and trained 150 parents on positive parenting and the importance of supporting girls’ education.

“I didn’t know how to talk to my children about certain things,” admits Beatrice, a mother in Ayensuano. “Now I talk to my daughter about her body, about school, about staying focused. I want more for her.”

Savana Signatures Closing the Gap, One Child at a Time
Raphael McClure Adomey the Programmes Manager for Education at Savana Signatures says the transformation is visible. “In classrooms, once quiet girls now raise their hands. Parents who rarely visited schools are now joining PTAs and attending workshops. Teachers who once felt unsupported now feel empowered.” Says Mr. McClure

There is still more to do, scaling interventions, enhancing teacher training, and deepening partnerships with the Ghana Education Service, but the path ahead is clearer than ever.

Through this model, learning gaps are being filled with real, measurable gains. Not just in test scores, but in confidence, awareness, and hope.

In rural Ghana, where a school uniform was once just a piece of clothing, it’s becoming a symbol of possibility.

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Quality Ice CEO Alhassan Iddi Donates Deep Freezer to Sankara Nationals FC


‎Details

Published: 21 October 2026

Published at: 11:09Am

By Saibu Terry


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‎The Chief Executive Officer of Quality Ice, a leading producer and distributor of quality mineral water in Yendi and the Eastern Corridor, Mr Alhassan Iddi, has donated a brand-new deep freezer to Sankara Nationals FC to support the club’s operations.


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‎The donation was made on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at the club’s headquarters in Yendi, with representatives of the playing body and management receiving the item on behalf of the club.
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‎The delegation was led by players’ leadership representatives Mohammed Salis Toufick and Sulemana Murtala, alongside management member Tahiru Osman.


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‎Mr Iddi’s gesture is expected to contribute to the club’s operational needs as Sankara Nationals FC continues its campaign in the 2026/27 UMB Division One League.
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‎Quality Ice has established itself as one of the major producers and distributors of quality mineral water in Yendi and the wider Eastern Corridor, with the donation reflecting a show of support for the development of football in the area.


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‎Speaking on behalf of the club’s Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Osman Baba Daney, management member Tahiru Osman, popularly known as Orga, expressed profound gratitude to Mr Iddi for his generosity and commitment to supporting the club.


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‎He assured the donor that the deep freezer would be put to its intended use and maintained appropriately for the benefit of the club.
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‎The management, players, technical staff, supporters and all stakeholders of Sankara Nationals FC have expressed their appreciation to Mr Iddi and Quality Ice for the timely support.


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‎The club has also offered prayers for God’s blessings upon the donor, asking for continued prosperity and success in his business endeavours.
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‎The donation comes at a positive moment for Sankara Nationals FC, who are enjoying an impressive start to the 2026/27 UMB Division One League season.
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‎The Yendi-based side currently lead the Zone One A standings with 13 points from five matches, having recorded four wins and one draw.


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‎Their unbeaten run has strengthened their position at the top of the table as they continue to pursue their ambitions in the ongoing campaign.
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‎The club’s management has consistently called for support from individuals, businesses and other stakeholders to help sustain its progress and strengthen its efforts both on and off the pitch.


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‎Mr Alhassan Iddi’s donation is another welcome contribution towards that objective, with Sankara Nationals FC expressing optimism that such acts of goodwill will inspire further support for the club.

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NLA Presents GH¢10 Million Dividend to Government

Details

Published: October 2, 2026

Published at : 05:59Pm

By SAIBU TERRY.

The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has presented a GH¢10 million dividend to the Government of Ghana, marking the Authority’s return to contributing directly to the Consolidated Fund.

The cheque was presented by the NLA Board and Management to the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, with Director-General Mohammed Abdul-Salam leading t8he Authority’s delegation.

The payment represents the NLA’s first dividend contribution to the state since 2017, according to reports on the presentation.

Dr. Ato Forson welcomed the development but stressed that the contribution should not be treated as a symbolic gesture. He called for sustained efforts by the NLA to improve its revenue generation and deliver greater financial value to the state.

The Finance Minister further disclosed that the Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the NLA and the Attorney-General, is reviewing existing revenue-sharing agreements involving the Authority. According to him, the review is intended to address arrangements that may have limited the revenue accruing to government.

In a statement shared on his Facebook page, NLA Director-General Mohammed Abdul-Salam said the dividend reflects the Authority’s renewed focus on efficiency, transparency and revenue generation.

He said the NLA would continue working to strengthen its operations and contribute meaningfully to national development through its statutory mandate.

The GH¢10 million payment is therefore being positioned as part of broader efforts to improve the NLA’s financial performance and strengthen its contribution to Ghana’s public finances.

The NLA has also urged the public to remain vigilant against fraudsters and scammers who may seek to exploit the Authority’s name for fraudulent activities.

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GABBSO Hospital Zone Treats Dakpema Pupils and Staff to Free Haircuts

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Published: September 26, 2026

Published at: 05:11

Ghananewsnet.com

​ Pupils and staff of the Dakpema Primary and Junior High School were met with a pleasant surprise on Friday, September 25, 2026, as the Hospital Zone of the Ghana Association of Barbers and Barbering Salon Owners (GABBSO) rolled out a free haircut outreach at their school compound.

​The community focused initiative brought smiles to the faces of over 100 students, providing them with fresh grooming free of charge.

According to leadership, the exercise forms part of the association’s broader corporate social responsibility to give back to society and support parents within the local community.

​Speaking during the outreach, the Regional Secretary of GABBSO, Mr. Abu Abdulai, who also serves as the Northern Regional Secretary for Association of Small Scale Industries(ASSI) took the opportunity to champion industry unity.

He urged fellow barbers operating within the region who have yet to join the association to register, emphasizing the numerous welfare and professional benefits members stand to gain.

​Mr. Abdulai also made a direct appeal to the Member of Parliament (MP) who double as Ghana Education Minister, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, calling for partnership and financial or logistical support.

He noted that with backing from the lawmaker, GABBSO can successfully scale up the initiative to reach many more schools across the constituency.

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