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Stop The Inconsistencies And Contradictions And Come Clear On The Free SHS You Promised Ghanaians

By Promise Trackers Association Of Ghana
Press Release Mattew Opoku Prempeh, Education Minister
MAY 23, 2017 LISTEN
Mattew Opoku Prempeh, Education Minister

We members of the above mentioned association, have observed with keen interest, recent commentary from the President and government officials on developments in the Ghana Education Service that borders on *Free SHS* that the government went into social contract with Ghanaians prior to the 7th December, 2016 Elections. Much as we applaud the government for indicating its commitment to providing *Free SHS to all Ghanaians*, we think the recent comments from the minister, contradicts what is stated in the party's 2016 manifesto and even the President's own words regarding the Free SHS.

To begin with, the 1992 Constitution of the Republic, which is the supreme law of the country enjoins all governments to ensure that education at the secondary school level is made progressively Free. Article 25(1) of the constitution states that *"secondary education in its different forms including technical and vocational education shall be made generally available and accessible to all by every appropriate means, and in particular, by the progressive introduction of free education "*. This thus makes it imperative on every government to make efforts conspicuous enough towards the attainment of *Free Secondary Education*.

During the 2016 elections, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by the President, President Nana Addo, went into a social contract with Ghanaians through their manifesto that his government, should they get the nod from Ghanaians, will make *Senior High, Technical/Vocational and Agriculture Education Free*. In the NPP 2016 manifesto, it is stated unequivocally on *page 107* under Secondary, Technical and Vocational Education that *"The NPP will redefine basic education to include Senior High School (SHS), covering vocational, agriculture and technical schools, and make it available for free on a universal basis today all Ghanaians"*. These tantalizing and hard to reject promise and many other similar ones, were bought into by majority who voted and that brought the NPP to power.

Having been sworn into office, the President, on 2nd February, 2016 at the 60th Anniversary Celebration of Akwapeman Secondary reiterated the manifesto pledge by saying that *“Without any equivocation, without any reservation, without any doubt to take Ghana to the stage where public SHS education will be free for every Ghanaian child.”*. Even as far back as in 2012, Candidate Nana Addo, then, has been explicit in telling Ghanaians that his free education do promised will be for secondary, technical and Vocational education. On 25th September 2012, he posted this on his official Facebook page. *"Every child in Ghana will have access to good quality education. This is the backbone and a top priority of our policy on Education. We can only transform our lives and economy with a highly literate populace. We are fully committed to making secondary education free for every Ghanaian child." "In order to ensure equity, day students will also be fed at school free of charge. Free secondary school education will cover Technical and Vocational institutions."* Similarly, the minister for information, Hon. Mustapha Hameed, also emphasized that promise saying that *"Let it be stated now and here, Free SHS will be for all. There is nothing like you have passed BECE or not. Everyone will benefit."*

Sadly however, the minister to superintend the implementation of this laudably social contract is been saying things contrary to the manifesto pledge, the President's word and his colleague minister for information. He, Hon Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh says on Accra-based Starrfm that *"Free SHS will be opened to pupils who pass their BECE. It is basically, if you don't pass, how do you benefit."* In a similar fashion, deputy minister for information, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah is also on record to the have contradicted the manifesto and President, saying that *"they (NPP) didn't promise Free SHS for all."*. Also, the 2016 budget statement presented on be hall of the president states that Free SHS will start with first years of the 2017/2018 academic year and not all Ghanaian students as promised.

The above contradictions by key players in the government regarding the implementation of the free SHS leaves so much uncertainties in the minds of parents and guardians, barely three months to the implementation of the policy. Many Civil Society Organizations including *IMANI-Ghana* and *Northern Network for Education and Development (NNED)* and experts in education are calling on the *government to come clear as to how the Free SHS policy will be implemented*.

We the members of *PROTAG* add our voice to those calls and thus want the Nana Addo led government to:

1. come out with a blueprint regarding how the Free SHS policy is to be implemented.

2. come clear as to whether all fees will be paid by the government or it is some amounts that will be taken.

3. tell Ghanaians the grade cut off point for one to benefit from the policy.

4. tell Ghanaians how students who will not be captured under the policy are expected to fund their education, that is, whether if one is desirous to continue with his/her education if the person does not meet the cut off point, whether that student will be doing fee paying.

5. tell Ghanaians whether non Ghanaians in the country will be benefiting from this policy.

We are of the firm conviction that without adequately addressing these issues, the policy will hit a snug. For, the minister to lead the implementation does not seem to have fully grasp the concept of the policy.

We commend civil society and fellow Ghanaians who are calling on the government to make issues regarding the policy clearer and unambiguous.

Thank you.
*Signed*
Convenor
*Saeed A. Faruk*
(0200387371/0242667691)
Co-Convenor
*Don Shakas*
(0506499634)
Secretary
*Danis Andaban*
(0549734023)

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