New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has attributed the decline in academic excellence and student discipline in some of Ghana’s leading senior high schools to what he describes as excessive state interference in the management of mission schools.
Speaking during a visit to the Christian Council of Ghana on Sunday, June 14, 2026, Dr. Bawumia argued that the gradual erosion of the traditional autonomy enjoyed by religious bodies has undermined the values and standards that once made mission schools among the best-performing institutions in the country.
According to the former Vice President, the longstanding partnership between the government and religious organisations was instrumental in building a strong educational system rooted in discipline, moral instruction and academic excellence.
“The management structures that made mission schools centres of excellence have been weakened through increased state control, and the consequences are evident in the growing challenges confronting our schools today,” he said.
Dr. Bawumia contended that limiting the role of churches and other religious bodies in school administration has contributed to rising cases of student misconduct and a gradual decline in institutional values.
He therefore called for a reassessment of the current governance framework, urging the government to restore greater management responsibilities to mission schools to help rebuild discipline and improve educational outcomes.
The NPP flagbearer stressed that re-engaging religious organisations in school governance would strengthen the moral foundation of students while preserving the traditions that have historically distinguished many of Ghana’s premier educational institutions.
His remarks come amid increasing national concern over incidents of indiscipline in senior high schools across the country. Reports of student unrest, vandalism and other forms of misconduct have prompted calls for reforms in the management and administration of second-cycle institutions.
