President Nana Akufo-Addo has openly challenged John Mahama, the leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to acknowledge the origins of the Free SHS (Senior High School) policy. During a recent political event, President Akufo-Addo highlighted a shift in Mahama’s stance, contrasting it with his previous criticism when the policy was first introduced.
The Free SHS policy, which has been a cornerstone of the Akufo-Addo administration, aims to provide free secondary education to all students in Ghana. This initiative has been touted by Akufo-Addo’s government as a transformative move for the country’s educational system. However, the debate over its origins has stirred controversy between the current and former presidents.
Akufo-Addo’s comments came in response to Mahama’s claims at a media engagement where he insisted that his administration had initiated the Free SHS policy back in 2015. Mahama argued that despite previous opposition, his government laid the groundwork for the policy, a claim that has now become a central issue in the ongoing political discourse.
“Back then, this man criticized us when we announced our plans to implement Free SHS. Now that it’s been embraced by the public, he’s trying to claim it as his own. Have you ever heard something so contradictory?” Akufo-Addo questioned during the event. The president also recalled Mahama’s previous remarks about educational funding. “He once said if he had GH¢2 billion, he wouldn’t invest it in free education. Now he sees its importance and suddenly shifts his stance? If he truly introduced Free SHS, why oppose it when we planned to introduce it?”
Akufo-Addo’s call for recognition came during the unveiling of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh as the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) vice-presidential candidate. The event, which drew significant media attention, became a platform for Akufo-Addo to affirm his administration’s achievements and to seek accountability from his political opponent. “This man even claimed that we are forgetful people. Are we also expected to forget his initial opposition?” Akufo-Addo added, emphasizing the perceived inconsistency in Mahama’s recent statements.
The history and application of the Free SHS policy are still major issues of disagreement between the two leaders as they compete for the public’s favor. Since the policy is currently very well-liked by Ghanaians, both sides use its attribution as a political instrument to gain support and legitimacy. The debate about who was the real supporter of Free SHS highlights an ongoing political challenge: the conflict between legacy and acknowledgment. As the nation approaches its upcoming election cycle, this topic is expected to remain at the top of political discourse as both parties tailor their platforms to appeal to voters’ concerns about national pride and education in particular.
