The Auditor General has exposed the Ministry of Education (MoE) under the former president Akufo-Addo administration for using a WhatsApp group to manage the GH₵430m Free Wi-Fi project meant for students, GES offices.
In a social media post shared by the Fourth Estate cites Ghana’s Auditor-General’s 2024 audit report revealed that the Ministry of Education spent GH¢430.5 million on a Free Wi-Fi project for schools from 2020-2023.
According to the Auditor-General’s 2024 audit report, the GH¢430.5 million Free Wi-Fi project for schools from 2020-2023 was shockingly managed informally via regional WhatsApp groups to resolve widespread service failures.
The Fourth Estate post showed screenshots from the Bono/Ahafo region WhatsApp group.
Some people on the group chat in the screenshot complained of zero connectivity, labelling the initiative a “white elephant”.
The report revealed there was no formal monitoring or penalties enforced for the whopping GH₵430m Free Wi-Fi project meant for students, GES offices.
Some Ghanaians reacting to the post stated, “GH₵430m on Wi-Fi, yet we dey troubleshoot with WhatsApp group? Tweaa, Ghana will stress you kraa!”.
“The previous gov’t behaved like a demon – it possessed the country for destruction”, another netizen stated.
Furthermore, the Auditor General also indicted the Ministry of Education (MoE) for implementing the free wifi project for Senior High Schools (SHSs) without a clear implementation plan.
According to the Auditor General’s report, GHC430 million was paid to the project contractor, even though no services were rendered for long periods.
The Auditor General reveals that the free Wi-Fi project cost the Ghanaian taxpayer almost half a billion cedis, with little to show for that expenditure.
The free Wi-Fi project can only be described as a broken internet supply to a few schools, frustrating teachers, students, and school administrators.
A survey of 224 institutions revealed that 100% abandoned the service due to inadequate bandwidth and unresolved outages.
The free Wi-Fi project was initially budgeted to cost GHC84.4 million to install modems in 717 Senior High Schools, 16 GES Regional offices, 260 GES District offices, and 46 colleges of Education.
It was also to deliver broadband services at a monthly cost of GHC6.37 million.
Though the modems were largely installed, broadband service was patchy most schools reporting no internet connectivity.
However, despite the challenges, Busy Internet and Lifted Logistics kept invoicing the government, and the Education Ministry continuously paid despite complaints from school heads and project coordinators.
The Auditor General expressed disappointment in the project to deliver, given the amount of money spent on it.
“Providing internet services to schools, colleges, and educational offices is a laudable initiative that involves high ICT investment costs. Hence, the absence of a clear implementation plan or formal policy and procedure to optimise the delivery of the intended benefits undermines the value for money in the investment being made.”
“The Ministry of Education had made a total payment of GHC430,516,872.11 to Busy Internet Ghana Ltd and Lifted Logistics Ghana Ltd for the period between 3rd February 2020 and 24th October 2023,” the Auditor General’s report for 2024 stated.
See the post below:
Auditor-General’s report reveals the Ministry of Education used WhatsApp groups to manage a 𝐆𝐇𝐂𝟒𝟑𝟎,𝟓𝟏𝟔,𝟖𝟕𝟐.𝟏𝟏 Free Wi-Fi project. Yes – this is the Bono/Ahafo group chat 👇 pic.twitter.com/kbdIT2Qs8G
— The Fourth Estate (@fourthestategh) November 7, 2025