Asantehen Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has asserted that the implementation of the High School policy is putting a huge strain on the national budget, and raising job creation challenges.
“The current government has introduced free education up to Senior High School, which now ensures that all Ghanaian children from whatever background are guaranteed free education.
“Considering the value to the nation, this must be one of the boldest policies of the nation but it also brings its challenges. It puts a huge strain on the national budget and raises further the challenge about the creation of jobs for the increasing number of graduates,” he said.
Speaking at a Memphis in May event at the University of Memphis in the United States, the Asantehene added that he set up a foundation to support needy, but brilliant children through their education when he became the ruler of the Ashanti kingdom.
“When we ascended the golden stool 23 years ago, we proclaimed education as the ultimate priority of our reign. In furtherance of our priority, we established a foundation to support the education of children from poor backgrounds.
“It has provided tuition to students who would, otherwise, have been deprived of basic education. Among them [are] persons who have risen to serve as ministers of state and justices of the courts,” he added.