Mr John Mahama, the flagbearer of the opposition NDC, has accused the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government of employing double standards in its approach to the ongoing debate surrounding the review of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy. Despite persistent calls for a comprehensive review of the free SHS program, which was introduced in 2017, the NPP government has consistently rejected such requests, maintaining that the policy warrants improvements rather than a complete overhaul.
At the launch of the Ghana National Association of Private Schools week, themed “2024 Elections: The Private Education Manifesto,” Mr Mahama criticized the NPP administration for its contradictory stance on this issue. He drew attention to the government’s pledge to review and rationalize the policy, as outlined in a document submitted to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), while presenting a contrasting narrative to the Ghanaian public.
Mr Mahama underscored the significant discrepancy between the NPP’s commitments to the IMF and its public statements, highlighting what he perceived as a lack of transparency and coherence in their approach.
“There is apparent hypocrisy surrounding this discussion of a review,” Mr Mahama asserted. “If we examine the IMF agreement signed by this government with the IMF, on page 76 under point 47, it states: “This Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government signed an agreement with the IMF in January 2024. And they say that in the educational sector, we will review and rationalize the free SHS.’ These are their words, not mine,” says Mr Mahama.
“And so when we hear all this political rhetoric about my understanding of the review as meaning to abolish, in their own words, they are using the term ‘review.’ It is essential to pay attention to our politics. I encourage you all to obtain the Eduwatch report and study it, particularly the section on the free SHS.
“It says that between 2021 to date, over 196,000 children did not take up their place in the free SHS. Even though they were posted and qualified, they didn’t go. We need to find out why they didn’t go,” he added.
