Free SHS is Akufo-Addo's most significant legacy - Serwaa Amihere

Ghanaian media personality, Serwaa Amihere has described the Free Senior High School policy initiated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as his “most significant legacy” to date.

Taking to her X handle on August 29, 2024, the anchor of GHONE TV’s “Voters’ Connect,” shared her insights on the impact of the Free SHS policy, Amihere noted that her interactions with Ghanaians reveal widespread support for the policy.

“I anchor GHONE TV’s ‘Voters’ Connect’ and my interactions with ordinary Ghanaians tell me ‘Free SHS’ will be President Akufo-Addo’s biggest legacy,” she posted.

Amihere mentioned that from market women to hawkers and commercial drivers, many voters plan to support the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 elections, citing Free SHS as a key reason.

She acknowledged that while the implementation of the policy has faced challenges, its positive impact on numerous Ghanaian families cannot be overlooked.

“From market women to hawkers to commercial drivers, many voting NPP in 2024 cite ‘Free SHS’.

“The implementation has had challenges but we can never discount the impact Free SHS has had on many Ghanaian families,” she added.

Her post, however, was met with mixed reactions from netizens. While some agreed with her stance and commended the government for the policy, others pointed out the myriad of challenges the policy has been through.

What is Free SHS?

The Free Senior High School (Free SHS) program in Ghana, launched in September 2017, aimed at making secondary education accessible to all Ghanaian children.

This policy, introduced by President Akufo-Addo's administration, seeks to remove the financial barriers that have historically prevented many students from continuing their education beyond junior high school.

The Free SHS program is designed to cover all fees approved by the Ghana Education Service (GES), including tuition, textbooks, and other essential learning materials.

This comprehensive coverage ensures that every Ghanaian child who gains admission to a public Senior High School through the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) can benefit from free education.

By eliminating these costs, the program hopes to alleviate the financial burden on families, making education more accessible to a broader segment of the population.

See the post below:

I anchor GHONE TV’s “Voters’ connect” and my interactions with ordinary Ghanaians tells me “Free SHS” will be President Akufo-Addo’s biggest legacy.

From market women to hawkers to commercial drivers, many voting NPP in 2024 cite “FreeSHS”.

The implementation has had challenges…

— Serwaa Amihere (@Serwaa_Amihere) August 29, 2024