GETFund Warns Contractors Against Shoddy Work on Projects

The Ghana Education Trust Fund has issued a clear message to contractors working on education projects across the country: quality cannot be compromised.

At a media engagement in Accra on Saturday, April 4, 2026, GETFund Administrator Mr Paul Adjei said contractors who fail to meet the expected standards on projects financed by the Fund will face sanctions. He said the Fund is becoming increasingly concerned about the quality of some recently completed works and will take steps to protect public resources and ensure taxpayers receive value for money.

His remarks come at a time when demand for school infrastructure, teaching support and equitable access to education financing remains high across Ghana. With GETFund playing a central role in supporting public education, the quality of projects funded under the scheme has become a matter of national interest.

Warning to contractors over standards

Mr Adjei said contractors engaged on GETFund projects must place durable, fit-for-purpose delivery above profit considerations. According to him, the quality of construction and project execution must reflect the sacrifices made by Ghanaian taxpayers whose contributions help finance national development.

He stressed that public funds are not available for waste or weak execution, adding that every school block, facility upgrade and education-related intervention funded through GETFund should meet the required specifications.

“Ghanaian taxpayers make significant sacrifices before earning their income, and it is from these same resources that government funds development projects. They therefore deserve nothing short of quality work,” Mr Adjei emphasised.

The Administrator noted that the Fund will not accept substandard output from contractors. He said any company or individual that delivers poor work on GETFund-supported assignments should expect the appropriate consequences.

The caution is significant because GETFund remains one of the most important public institutions supporting education financing in Ghana. Since its establishment under Act 581 in 2000, the Fund has been tasked with mobilising resources to complement government spending on education.

A major source of that support is the 2.5 per cent VAT levy, which helps the Fund finance a broad range of interventions in the education sector.

Monitoring team to inspect projects nationwide

To reinforce oversight, Mr Adjei announced that a special strategic monitoring team has been set up to inspect both ongoing and completed GETFund projects across the country.

The team is expected to verify whether contractors are complying with approved standards, project specifications and delivery expectations. The move is intended to strengthen quality assurance and create a more rigorous monitoring system around infrastructure and other supported works.

For education stakeholders, the announcement signals a tougher enforcement approach from the Fund's leadership. Rather than waiting for defects or complaints to escalate, the monitoring team will serve as an accountability mechanism aimed at detecting poor workmanship early and ensuring corrective action where necessary.

The nationwide scope of the inspections is also notable. GETFund-backed projects are spread across public institutions, and the quality of delivery has a direct effect on teaching, learning and the broader educational environment. Poorly executed infrastructure can increase maintenance costs, reduce safety and undermine long-term value from public investment.

Mr Adjei's comments suggest that the Fund wants contractors to understand that project supervision will be more active and that sanctions will no longer be seen as a distant possibility.

• Ongoing projects will be reviewed for compliance with approved specifications
• Completed projects will also be inspected for quality and durability
• Contractors who fail to meet benchmarks may face sanctions
• The exercise is designed to improve value for money in public education spending

By tightening supervision, the Fund appears to be positioning itself to improve confidence in the delivery of educational infrastructure and related interventions.

Broader reforms at GETFund

Beyond the warning to contractors, Mr Adjei used the media engagement to outline broader steps being taken within GETFund to improve access, transparency and public communication.

He said the GETFund Scholarship Scheme remains open to all Ghanaians and encouraged students, especially those from rural and underserved communities, to apply. The emphasis on inclusivity reflects a long-standing concern that students in disadvantaged areas often need stronger institutional support to benefit fully from national opportunities.

According to him, the current administration is working to enhance transparency and fairness in the scholarship application process so that eligible applicants can have confidence in how support is awarded.

That assurance is likely to resonate with many families and students who look to the scheme as a pathway to academic advancement. In a context where education costs can be a major barrier, scholarship access remains an important part of the Fund's national relevance.

Mr Adjei also announced the creation of a dedicated Corporate Affairs Department within GETFund. He said the new department is expected to strengthen communication between the Fund, the media and the general public.

The department will be responsible for addressing concerns, clarifying issues about the Fund's operations and improving public engagement. This reform appears aimed at making GETFund more open and responsive, particularly as scrutiny of public spending and programme delivery continues to grow.

1. Improve communication with the public and the media
2. Provide clearer information about GETFund operations
3. Address concerns promptly and accurately
4. Support greater transparency across the institution

Mr Adjei further encouraged journalists to engage the Fund directly, visit its offices and seek accurate information when reporting on its work. That appeal points to an effort to build a more informed public conversation around GETFund's activities, priorities and impact.

Overall, the message from the Fund's leadership is twofold: contractors must deliver better quality, and the institution itself must improve how it communicates and manages oversight. Together, those steps suggest a push toward stricter accountability and stronger public trust.

For many observers, the real test will be how consistently the sanctions regime is applied and whether the newly announced monitoring system leads to measurable improvements on the ground. If it does, the education sector could benefit not only from more projects, but from better ones.

In the meantime, GETFund's latest warning has put contractors on notice that delivering below standard on publicly funded education projects may carry consequences that can no longer be ignored.