FLASHBACK: Free SHS would collapse Ghana’s education system – Mahama

The flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, recently affirmed his support for any bill that aims to enhance education in Ghana.

Speaking at a media engagement in Accra on Sunday, July 7, Mahama declared that the Free SHS policy is here to stay, and as such, it cannot be canceled.

"I am committed to improving its implementation and making it better. I will support any bill intended to improve education in Ghana," he stated.

However, Mahama had previously warned that Ghana's education system could face a near-collapse if the free Senior High School policy, as advocated by the NPP, were to be implemented.

He cited examples of other African countries, such as Kenya and Botswana, which reintroduced fee-paying in their secondary schools after their free education policies nearly led to the collapse of their secondary education systems.

Addressing students at Cape Coast University in 2012 during a three-day campaign in the Central Region, President Mahama was responding to Nana Akufo-Addo's consistent promotion of his free SHS promise on the campaign trail.

"Countries like Botswana, Uganda, and Kenya have implemented free SHS. Today, as I speak to you, Botswana has announced the reintroduction of secondary school fees. Kenya has sought international assistance to prevent their secondary school system from collapsing. A recent study on free SHS in Kenya indicates that it is facing significant challenges," President Mahama explained.

AM/OGB

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