Key Points
- Mahama says his government plans to review and improve Free SHS, not cancel it.
- The government allocated GH¢3.5 billion, the highest since the programme’s start.
- The NPP argues that Mahama’s review plan signals an intent to cancel the policy.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has dismissed claims by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) that he plans to cancel the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme. Instead, he said his government is focused on reviewing and improving the policy, not ending it.
Review is about improvement, not cancellation
Speaking at the swearing-in of his ministers and deputy ministers at the Jubilee House on March 12, Mahama addressed the controversy over his stance on Free SHS.
“We’ve proven through the budget that review does not mean cancel. For those who don’t understand English, a review does not mean cancel,” Mahama said.
He explained that his administration has allocated GH¢3.5 billion—the highest amount ever—to support Free SHS since it was introduced in 2017. This was made possible by uncapping the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
“By uncapping GETFund, we’ve freed up resources to provide the largest allocation to Free SHS,” Mahama noted.
NPP says review means cancellation
Mahama’s comments follow criticisms from the NPP, which argues that his call for a review is a cover for scrapping the programme.
During the 2024 elections, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo urged voters to reject Mahama, insisting that a review was another way of saying cancellation.
“Reviewing a policy is not a policy. Cancelling a policy is not a policy. A policy is a clear plan of action,” Akufo-Addo said at an NPP rally on December 5, 2024.
“The Free SHS policy has been consistent from the start. If you give him power, he will cancel it. Are we ready to see Free SHS cancelled in Ghana?” he questioned.
Improving Free SHS for better results
Despite the NPP’s claims, Mahama said reviewing Free SHS is necessary to fix existing problems and ensure its long-term success. He argued that the focus is on making the programme more efficient and beneficial for all Ghanaian children.
“The review is about improving the policy, removing bottlenecks, and making Free SHS stronger and more sustainable,” Mahama explained.
