President-elect John Dramani Mahama has pledged to uphold and enhance Ghana’s Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, dismissing claims that his administration intends to abolish the initiative.
Speaking in an interview with Voice of America (VOA), Mahama described the allegations—which were largely promoted by New Patriotic Party (NPP) officials during the recent election campaign—as baseless political propaganda.
“Free SHS has come to stay, and it is not going anywhere,” Mahama stated emphatically. “Nobody is going to scrap Free SHS. What was said was political talk and gimmickry. We are going to maintain it. What we are going to do is get dedicated funding for it.”
The Free SHS program, introduced in 2017 under the Akufo-Addo administration, provides free tuition, boarding, and meals for students in public senior high schools.
The initiative has significantly improved access to secondary education for hundreds of thousands of Ghanaian youth, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds.
However, the program has not been without challenges. Issues such as overcrowded classrooms, inadequate infrastructure, and delays in the release of funds have posed serious threats to its effective implementation. Mahama’s commitment to retaining the policy includes addressing these challenges through sustainable funding and quality improvements.
As part of his vision, Mahama intends to work closely with education stakeholders to refine the program’s implementation. “Our aim is to ensure that the Free SHS program delivers quality education,” he said. “We will review its operational challenges and put in place mechanisms to make it more sustainable and effective.”
The Free SHS debate featured prominently in the 2024 general election campaign.
The NPP repeatedly claimed that Mahama would dismantle the policy if elected, a narrative Mahama has strongly refuted.
His firm stance has resonated with many Ghanaians, particularly parents and students who have benefitted from the program.
Mahama’s decisive victory in the December 7 election further underscores public support for his agenda. The Electoral Commission declared him the winner with 6,328,397 votes, representing 56.55% of the valid votes cast.
His closest rival, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of the NPP, secured 4,657,304 votes (41.61%). This victory marks Mahama’s return to the presidency after serving as Ghana’s leader from 2012 to 2017.
Beyond education, Mahama’s campaign emphasised themes of economic restoration, tackling corruption, and improving social services such as healthcare. His promise to preserve and enhance Free SHS is seen as a cornerstone of his broader agenda to promote social equity and national development.
With his inauguration imminent, Mahama faces the task of turning his promises into actionable policies. His approach to Free SHS will be closely watched as a measure of his administration’s commitment to improving the lives of Ghanaians through inclusive and sustainable governance.