Accra is set to host the second West African High‑Level Conference on Scaling Education Initiatives in Emergencies on September 29 and 30, 2026. The two‑day event will convene education leaders, researchers, innovators, financiers and development partners to explore practical approaches to keeping children in school when emergencies disrupt normal schooling.
The Ministry of Education announced that the conference will examine how education systems can respond to crises such as conflicts, floods and pandemics, which can displace learners, interrupt teaching and learning and damage school infrastructure. In a Facebook post, the ministry highlighted the need for practical solutions that can be implemented across the region.
Minister for Education Haruna Iddrisu pointed to Ghana’s experience with the COVID‑19 pandemic, the Akosombo Dam spillage and the conflict in Bawku as examples of emergencies that have disrupted education and affected learners. He said the conference provides an opportunity for stakeholders across the region to examine interventions that can help education systems remain functional during emergencies.
"The conference provides an opportunity for stakeholders across the region to examine interventions that can help education systems remain functional during emergencies,"Iddrisu added. He also called for successful education interventions to be expanded beyond pilot projects, while advocating stronger financing mechanisms and greater regional cooperation to support education in emergencies.
Attendees will share evidence, innovations and practical solutions aimed at strengthening the resilience of education systems and protecting children’s access to learning during periods of crisis. The summit is expected to set the stage for renewed regional collaboration and increased funding for emergency education programmes.
Looking ahead, Ghana will position itself as a regional hub for education resilience, while the conference will lay groundwork for future initiatives that safeguard learning for children across West Africa.
