The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has hailed the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, initiated under the former President Nana Akufo-Addo administration, as the most impactful social policy in the Fourth Republic.
Addressing participants at the Young Commons Forum held at the University of Cape Coast on February 21, 2026, Afenyo-Markin posited that despite ongoing public debate surrounding the programme, its profound influence on secondary education accessibility cannot be disputed.
According to the Effutu MP, the Free SHS policy has revolutionised the education sector by removing financial obstacles that previously hindered numerous students from progressing beyond the basic level.
He noted that the programme’s extensive scope and nationwide coverage set it apart from other policies implemented since Ghana’s return to constitutional rule in 1993.
He further posited that while criticism is inherent in policy-making, the programme’s achievements are self-evident.
“The critics can be loud and say all they can about the Free SHS, but by far, without arguments, it stands as the most emblematic social intervention of the Akufo-Addo administration,” he said.
He referred to the policy as “the most consequential social intervention in Ghana’s Fourth Republic.”
He added that the policy removed the payment of fees at the secondary level and opened doors for thousands of students from low-income households.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
