Twenty-five years ago, Rosemary Ohene Bredu opened Ahenemba International School on leased land in Takoradi, Ghana. Renting made every improvement feel temporary; Ghana’s customary tenure system leaves chiefs and clans holding most deeds, so a landlord’s notice could erase years of work overnight.
When Edify started partnering with schools in Ghana in 2010, nine out of ten were in the same position — paying rent, patching roofs, and postponing the construction of new classrooms, as ownership continually felt out of reach. When Edify stepped in with affordable loan capital and hands-on finance training, these school proprietors were shown a realistic path from tenancy to title.
A Journey of Trust
But the journey wasn’t just about finding the funds. It meant navigating Ghana’s unique property system, building trust with chiefs and clan leaders, and securing the documentation needed to prove ownership, a process that often took years.
For Ahenemba School, a critical loan in 2017 funded a small computer lab, with additional loans improving the school’s infrastructure in the years to follow, and at last, the deed itself. Once the land was secure, enrollment increased, teachers remained, and neighbors utilized the lab for evening literacy classes.
The story is repeating nationwide. Today, more than 90 percent of Edify Core Schools¹ hold deeds, up from 10 percent fifteen years ago. Deborah Azu, Christ-Centered Education Officer in Ghana, shares the impact: “School owners who previously thought it was nearly impossible to buy land for their schools are now beginning to see the possibilities through these loans and the need for solid financial planning for their institutions.”
New Beginnings
This newfound ownership frees up money that was once lost to rent. Proprietors replace tin roofs with concrete, add libraries scented with new books, drill wells for clean water, and reinvest in scholarships, teacher development, and education technology. Communities notice the change: attendance climbs, and school owners use weekends to repaint classrooms and host neighborhood events, drawing the community into the life of the school.
In Ghanaian tradition, land carries spiritual weight; owning a plot affirms a covenant with the past and a responsibility to the future. For Christ-centered schools like Ahenemba, a deed promises that the truths of Scripture and lessons learned will echo through those rooms long after today’s students become tomorrow’s leaders. What began on borrowed ground is now a permanent address for learning — and for hope.
¹ The Core Program is Edify’s intensive three-year partnership with selected schools, offering comprehensive training, loans, and education-technology resources, along with regular follow-up and annual evaluations to drive accelerated, lasting transformation.
