Akufo-Addo introduced Free SHS education in Ghana, not Mahama – Prof. Kofi Agyekum

Professor of Linguistics at the University of Ghana, Kofi Agyekum, has affirmed that the pro-poor policy, Free SHS, is the brainchild of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, not former President John Dramani Mahama.

Sharing his opinion on the raging topic on Peace FM’s "Kokrokoo" morning show on Thursday, July 11, 2024, with host Nana Yaw Kesse, the doyen in academia emphasized that the question of who introduced Free SHS should not even arise because it is a known fact.

According to him, Free SHS is the brainchild of President Akufo-Addo, a fact known by all Ghanaians. He wondered why anybody would try to appropriate Free SHS for themselves when Akufo-Addo is the one who introduced the policy.

"Ask any Ghanaian out there about who introduced and implemented Free SHS, and the obvious response is Nana Akufo-Addo. There is no debate about this," Opanin Agyekum stated on Peace FM’s "Kokrokoo" during a panel discussion.

The flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama, stated at a media encounter event held on Sunday that the NDC introduced Free SHS and, therefore, he would not cancel the policy if given the mantle of leadership again. This statement was made in response to a question about whether the policy would be cancelled should he become president again.

This has sparked discussions in the public domain, with many Ghanaians questioning the honesty of the former president since he has been on record speaking against the introduction of the Free Senior High School policy.

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The NDC, in the 2012 electioneering campaign, commissioned about 47 anti-Free SHS adverts, urging the electorate to reject Akufo-Addo and his Free SHS promise, which, in the minds of the members of the NDC, was an impossible dream.

Mr. Mahama, in the run-up to the 2016 elections, said, "Ghana must not implement Free SHS on the whimsical promises of a desperate politician. Many countries in Africa have failed with free education policies."

There have also been several comments made against Free SHS by the former President, John Mahama, and other key figures of the National Democratic Congress:

• President Mahama on November 23, 2012, told the people of Okere in the Eastern Region, "Free SHS will collapse the education system of Ghana."

• President Mahama at UCC in 2016 said, "The Free Senior High School by the NPP is a political gimmick."

• Former President Mahama at the NDC’s Tarkwa unity walk strongly rejected the Free SHS policy, stating that it is unwise to implement it.

• Mahama on November 25, 2017, stated, "Lalasulala Free SHS will fail."

• Former President Mahama on his presidential primaries tour said, "Akufo-Addo’s Free SHS is not working."

• Former President Mahama again on October 1, 2018, reiterated his aversion to Free SHS, stating that it will undergo a review and hinted at the possibility of the policy being scrapped because, to him, it is unthinkable to spend 2 billion Ghana cedis on Free SHS, and that it is seriously constricting the government’s budget.

• The then Minister of Education, Lee Ocran, on September 10, 2012, said, "Free SHS can only be possible in 2032, in 20 years’ time."

• Mahama Ayariga, on September 26, 2016, said, "Choose Mahama’s education policy; it is better than Akufo-Addo’s Free SHS."

• Hajia Joyce Zeinabu, then National Women Organizer of the NDC in 2016, on November 20, said, "Free SHS will breed teenage pregnancies."

• The General Secretary of the NDC, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, is on record to have said on October 1, 2018, that Free SHS is shambolic and that it will have to be scrapped.

• The National Chairman of the NDC, Elder Ofosu Ampofo, also on December 18, 2018, said, "The Double Track system is causing teenage pregnancy."

• NDC MP for Adaklu, Kwame Agbodza, on June 19, 2018, said, "Overconcentration on Free SHS is stifling funds meant for flood prevention."

• Adam Mutawakilu, former NDC MP for Damango, said, "Blame the mysterious deaths at KUMACA on overcrowding as a result of Free SHS."

• Felix Kwakye Ofosu on May 14, 2018, warned the government, "You can’t use oil money to fund Free SHS."

• Joshua Akamba told Tempane SHS students, "Reject Akufo-Addo for implementing such a shambolic education system."

All the above commentaries were made by the former president and some key figures in his party. It is obvious that the opposition NDC cannot claim credit for the implementation of Free SHS.

"There is no debate about this. Akufo-Addo is behind Free SHS. We shouldn't debate this. We should look at how best to improve the program and not who introduced it. We all know who introduced it, and it is none other than President Akufo-Addo," he stated.