The World Bank has indicated that it will take legal action against the government of Ghana should it continue to withhold audited reports on the Ghana Accountability Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP).

In a letter to the Finance Ministry dated October 21, 2022, World Bank Country Director, Pierre Laporte, reproached the government, noting that it had failed to provide the audit reports on how funds were utilised for almost 10 months, thereby breaching the agreement reached by the International Development Association and the Republic of Ghana.

On January 17, 2022, the International Development Association and the Republic of Ghana signed a Financing Agreement in connection with the Ghana Accountability Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP-Cr. No. 64820-GH).

Per the agreement, Ghana was to provide its audited financial statements no later than six months after the end of such period.

“In accordance with Section 5.09(b)(II) of the General Conditions incorporated by reference in the Financing Agreement and as specified in paragraph II (ii) of the Disbursement and Financial Information Letter (DFIL), the Recipient is required to furnish the audited financial statements covering the period of one fiscal year of the Recipient no later than six months after the end of such period.”

“We note that as of today, October 18, 2022, the Association has not received the audited financial statements for the year ending December 2021 in compliance with the General Conditions,” portions of the letter to the Ministry read.

In line with the Audit Compliance Guidance, the World Bank has provided Ghana a grace period of 30 days, which commenced on October 21, to tender in the audited reports.

According to the World Bank, “we trust that your personal and immediate attention to this matter will ensure speedy compliance of the audit requirements.”

However, failure to do so, the World Bank warned that “the Association may have no option than to explore the possibility of exercising the appropriate legal remedies under the Financing Agreement.”

President Akufo-Addo in June 2020,  launched the Ghana Accountability and Learning Outcomes Project, a US$219 million project.The project sought to enable teachers to be equipped in line with the new curriculum, provide learning materials to schools and train heads of schools in school management techniques.

Issues surrounding the project only surfaced in May this year after the Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, was accused of misappropriating $1.2 million from the World Bank; a claim he disputed.

He explained that the money remained in the Education Ministry’s account.

There was the need for clarification after the then Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Prof Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, noted that he was unaware that the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project had trained over 40,000 teachers on the digital literacy platform (GALOP) in response to a letter from the World Bank seeking confirmation of teacher training.

Before reaching out to the Ghana Education Service, sources say the World Bank asked the Education Ministry for slides for the training courses, as well as examples of the self-assessments teachers were expected to do, but none of these were submitted.

Later, the World Bank confirmed that the Minister did not embezzle the funds as purported.

“As per the protocol, the Ministry of Education provided the details of the number of teachers trained in using distance learning methods, which were verified by the Development Partners Group and accepted by the World Bank.The financing was released upon this confirmation. The World Bank remains committed to supporting Ghana in its efforts to improve education for all,” the World Bank stated.

Source: The Independent Ghana