Mr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, the government’s spokesperson for governance and security, has praised the free Senior High School policy as a remarkable effort that has impacted many people.
He remarked that the policy has had a greater impact on lives in the seven years since President Akufo-Addo assumed office than the number of Ghanaians who have completed senior high school since Ghana’s independence.
He indicated that the success chalked by the policy cannot be overlooked.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2017 launched the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, describing the programme as the means to creating a society of opportunities and empowerment for every citizen.
At the ceremony, the President said he launched the policy “because I know that knowledge and talent are not for the rich and privileged alone, and that free education widens the gates of opportunities to every child, especially those whose talents are arrested because of poverty.”
After seven years of implementation, Palgrave Boakye-Danquah deemed the policy a success.
He further stated that free SHS has influenced the lives of around 1.4 million individuals today.
“Every leader has his or her own vision. President Akufo-Addo had a vision. The burden of President Akufo-Addo was to see to it that the foundations that have been deteriorated were reestablished. So he brought free SHS, which has impacted close to 1.4 million people as I speak with you today. So you cannot underestimate the impact.
“It may interest you to know that, since 1957 and until the NPP took office, just 800,000 people had benefited from free SHS. Today, the figure has doubled in seven years. Free SHS has numerous advantages that should not be overlooked.”
He credited Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, the former Education Minister and current Energy Minister for the successful implementation of the free senior high school policy.
He believes the former education minister did exceptionally well in executing President Akufo-Addo’s flagship policy, which has helped deprived families send their children to senior high school.
According to him, when the history of Ghana is told when it turns 100, the name of Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh will be mentioned together with President Akufo-Addo in reference to the free SHS.
“Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh is such an excellent gentleman. He is a medical doctor by profession. He is an astute politician. He has won many elections in Manhyia South. It is not easy to win an election in Manhyia South.
He has managed to hold on to the constituency. One of the things I like about him is that he is the one who delivered the mandate of President Akufo-Addo’s free SHS. It will go into our history. When Ghana is 100 years old and the track record of free SHS is mentioned, the names of two people will be mentioned, and they are President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh. He is the implementor. It was his ministry that set up the free SHS Secretariat.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
