“Free SHS is for the needy, choose private schools if you can afford” – Akufo-Addo
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has responded to calls for the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy to be restructured, suggesting that families who can afford private school fees should enroll their children in private institutions.
This comes amidst growing concerns over the financial burden the policy places on the national budget.
The President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Yaw Acheampong Boafo, had earlier recommended that the government reconsider the Free SHS policy by having affluent families pay fees, allowing more resources to support less privileged students.
In his address at the 2024/2025 Annual General Conference of the GBA in Kumasi, President Akufo-Addo defended the policy, emphasizing that public schools funded by taxpayers must remain accessible to all, particularly those unable to afford secondary education.
“People who can afford to pay fees for the education of their wards should send them to fee-paying private schools. Public schools that are funded by the taxpayer should be free to all who will otherwise be unable to pay for their education”, Akufo-Addo remarked.
He further highlighted that over 5.7 million students have benefited from the policy since its introduction, with its long-term impact expected to outweigh the concerns of a minority of privileged parents.
“That is why the number of pupils who have access to secondary education has doubled since the introduction of the free senior high school policy.”
“Over 5.7 million persons have benefitted from the policy since its inception. The following impact of this dramatic development will be felt in due course and will far outweigh the small number of privileged parents who can afford to pay for the education of their wards,” President Akufo-Addo stated.
