Government Urged Not To Depend On Oil Money For FREE SHS

Authorities of some Senior High Schools (SHS) in the Brong Ahafo Region have urged the government to plan for alternative sources of funding for the free Senior High School policy.

The headmaster of Techiman SHS, Jacob Afful, believes a cash crop like cashew has the potential to fund development in the country.

The Free SHS policy is currently anchored by funding from Ghana’s oil revenue.

“Your work is to assess how oil revenue is used to fund education and other projects in the country. That is laudable because oil is for Ghana and we know as a resource it’s limited. We only pray that Ghana does not put all its eggs in one basket. Before oil discovery, cocoa has been funding the country's development. Now that I'm in the Brong Ahafo, I propose cashew and others, so we do not depend on oil only and suffer from the Dutch disease,” he said.

The Headmaster of Nkoranza Senior Secondary/Technical School, Mr Ata Amponsah Frimpong also appealed to the government to address challenges of the Free SHS.

He catalogued some of the challenges as delays in the release of funds, weak communication and delays with food and logistical supplies for the effective and efficient implementation of the programme.

Citi News checks revealed the schools received funds and other supplies for students of Techiman and Nkoranza high schools..

For the 2017-2019, the government intends to spend on agriculture, physical infrastructure, education, health; and road, rail and other critical infrastructure development as the new priority areas.

This issue came up during a visit by the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) and Institute of Financial and Economic Journalist (IFEJ) to Techiman and Nkoranza Senior High Schools in the Brong Ahafo to assess the implementation of the Free SHS policy by the government as part of oil-funded projects for 2018.

The team is on a two-week monitoring and inspection visit to some selected communities in the region to check on projects being funded with oil revenue.

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By: Mashoudkombat/citinewsroom.com/Ghana