Akufo-Addo should have implemented free SHS in his 2nd year - Economist

A renowned economist and lecturer at the Kumasi Polytechnic, Mr. Kusi Boafo says President Akufo-Addo should not have started the implementation of his long-standing Free Senior High School [SHS] policy in his first year in office.

According to him, President Akufo-Addo should have slowed down on the implementation of the Free SHS policy as the economic strength of the country is still down.

Speaking on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Mr. Kusi Boafo insisted that the country’s economy needs stability; thus the President should not put pressure on his government to deliver on his promises to Ghanaians while the ailing economy needs time to heal.

He urged President Akufo-Addo to make Ghanaians understand the state of the economy in order not to succumb to the pressure of the masses to fulfil all promises.

“Free education is associated with Nana Akufo-Addo for a long time and nobody can deny that, but the economic strength of the country is down and so one would have suggested that a slow down on the policy will help till the economy is stable,” he urged.

He, however, suggested that President Akufo-Addo should have started his Free SHS policy in his second year as, by that year, the economy would have been in a proper shape to kick start this landmark exercise in the country.

“I would have wished that Free SHS will start in the second year of Nana Akufo-Addo in office or even in his third year because I think the economy should be put on a proper footing. This is a landmark exercise; only that it won’t be easy and it will call for serious commitment to make it achievable,” he suggested.

He, therefore, advised President Nana Akufo-Addo to cut down government machinery at the Flagstaff House in a bid to do a good job in government and also beat down the expenditure at the Presidency as the previous government failed to do so.

“In the previous government, expenditure at the Flagstaff House was more than the budget for the Agriculture sector and Agriculture is our economic backbone as a country. This government should cut down the number of cars at the Presidency and channel the monies to something else . . . I don’t want them to buy cars immediately,” he advised.