A Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Education Committee has lambasted the Nana Addo-led administration’s double standards on the free SHS policy.
In a brief tweet to X, the MP for Builsa South, Dr. Apaak stated that, while the government has assured Ghanaians that the review meant cancellation, it has confirmed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that it will evaluate the programme.
He claimed that the administration and its communicators were dishonest.
The administration informed the IMF that it was ready to examine and rationalise the policy.
This was stated in the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) most recent assessment of Ghana’s US$3 billion bailout package.
On page 76 of their 155-page report under the heading ‘PUBLIC SPENDING EFFICIENCY,’ the government spoke about among others, recalibrating the expenditure portfolio of Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) responsible for social spending.
“The key objective is to shift the composition of spending by these MDAs towards targeted and well-designed interventions.
“In addition to functional review of relevant MDAs, we will carry out a comprehensive assessment of public sector wages, including in education and health sectors.
“In the education sector, we will review and rationalize the Free Senior High School (SHS) program. We will continue our support to tertiary education, take targeted measures to improve foundational learning (e.g., increasing capitation grants) and introduce reforms with the help of development partners to improve overall learning outcomes.”
The December 18, 2023 report was titled: “STAFF REPORT FOR THE 2023 ARTICLE IV CONSULTATION, FIRST REVIEW UNDER THE ARRANGEMENT UNDER THE EXTENDED CREDIT FACILITY, REQUEST FOR MODIFICATION OF PERFORMANCE CRITERIA, AND FINANCING ASSURANCES REVIEW.”
Despite the IMF’s pledge, certain government appointees, notably Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, believe that former President John Dramani Mahama’s claim to review the programme means it will be cancelled.
Dr. Osei Yaw Adutwum, speaking at the Ghana Muslim Mission’s 63rd anniversary in Kumasi recently, indicated that any attempt to abolish the policy would be met with resistance because the strategy had been successful.
“President Akufo-Addo and his Vice, brought Free SHS and they have provided the needed support to make it a success and bring relief to parents.
“If anyone says they will review Free SHS it means one thing. That person wants to cancel it and we won’t allow that,” he stated.
However, Dr. Apaak has taken on the administration, claiming that the dishonesty has been discovered.
He stated that the government cannot tell Ghanaians that review means cancellation while admitting to the IMF that it is up to review.
He also attacked a link to Ghanaweb’s story.
“The deceitful and dishonest Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government has told the IMF that it will REVIEW and RATIONALISE FSHS the Programme:
“In the educational sector, we will review and rationalise the Free Senior High School Programme”. I guess this failed NPP government only listens to the IMF, shame!
Read attached story!
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
