Deputy Education Minister Dr. Clement Park has expressed gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama for appointing him.
The Builsa South MP said the appointment reflects the president’s trust in his ability.
He has therefore promised to give his best in the discharge of his responsibilities.
Dr. Apaak, who served as a spokesperson on education for President Mahama’s 2024 campaign, was sworn into office on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, alongside 12 other deputy ministers and a minister of state.
The ceremony was held at the Jubilee House, where the President administered the Oath of Office and Oath of Secrecy to the appointees who had successfully been vetted by Parliament’s Appointments Committee.
Dr. Apaak would be deputising the Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu.
He is expected to support the minister in executing the president’s commitment to reset the education sector, which is bedevilled with several challenges.
In a tweet on X, formerly known as Twitter, Dr. Apaak expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank you, President John Dramani Mahama. I will give my very best in the discharge of my responsibilities.”.
During his vetting in February, the Deputy Education Minister assured Ghanaians that the free SHS policy was not going to be cancelled and that the government remains dedicated to making it better by assessing the infrastructure and other key challenges.
Appearing before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, Dr. Apaak stated, “I’m promising you just as President John Dramani Mahama has promised all Ghanaians, there will be no cancellation of the Free SHS policy.
“He will not cancel it either today or tomorrow; it has come to stay and has been accepted by all.”
He also acknowledged that the policy significantly increased enrolment but faced challenges such as overcrowded classrooms, inadequate infrastructure, and delayed funding.
He stressed that the Mahama-led administration will address the challenges, saying, “We will work on the challenges to improve the Free SHS to benefit everyone.”
It would also be recalled that during the campaign, Dr. Apaak assured Ghanaians that the NDC would decap GETFund and increase the allocation for free SHS.
This was reflected in the budget presentation by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
The government has allocated GH¢3.5 billion to fund the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme.
The minister also announced a major policy shift that removes the cap on the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to allow for more resources.
“To ensure sustainable financing for education, the government is removing the cap on GETFund, allowing more funds to flow directly into the education sector,” Dr. Forson stated.
The removal of the GETFund cap is expected to free up additional resources for:
• Expanding classrooms and dormitory facilities in overcrowded schools.
• Procuring teaching and learning materials for students.
• Enhancing teacher recruitment and training to improve education quality.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
