John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has criticized the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for what he perceives as double standards in the ongoing debate over the review of the Free Senior High School (SHS) Policy.
Speaking at the launch of the Ghana National Association of Private Schools week under the theme “2024 Elections: The Private Education Manifesto,” Mr. Mahama accused the NPP government of contradicting itself regarding the review of the free SHS program.
He pointed out that while the NPP has consistently rejected calls for a review of the free SHS policy, they had promised to review and rationalize the policy in a document submitted to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Mr. Mahama highlighted the contradiction between the NPP's public stance and their agreement with the IMF, emphasizing that the government presented a different narrative to Ghanaians than what was outlined in their agreement.
Referring to the IMF agreement signed by the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government in January 2024, Mr. Mahama quoted a specific section indicating the government's commitment to reviewing and rationalizing the free SHS policy.
He criticized the political rhetoric surrounding the term “review,” urging citizens to scrutinize the Eduwatch report, which revealed that over 196,000 children did not take up their place in the free SHS program between 2021 and the present.
According to Mr. Mahama, the report also highlighted the financial burden of the free SHS policy, with parents contributing approximately 77% of the costs compared to the government's 23%.
In light of these findings, Mr. Mahama emphasized the need for a comprehensive review of the free SHS policy to address issues such as low enrollment rates and the financial implications on both parents and the government.