Free SHS will be sustained under my leadership – Mahama reassures

President-elect John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his commitment to the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, assuring Ghanaians that it will not only be sustained but also enhanced under his administration.

Speaking in an interview with Voice of America (VOA), Mahama declared the policy as a permanent feature of Ghana’s education system, stating, “Free SHS is here to stay and is not going anywhere.”

Responding to claims by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) plans to abolish the Free SHS programme, Mahama dismissed the allegations as unfounded political rhetoric.

“Nobody is going to scrap Free SHS. What was said was political talk and gimmickry. We are going to maintain it. What we are going to do is get dedicated funding for it,” he clarified.

Mahama highlighted that his administration’s priority would be to secure sustainable funding to address challenges such as infrastructure deficits and financial strain, ensuring the programme’s long-term viability.

The Free SHS policy, introduced by the NPP, has been instrumental in expanding access to secondary education across Ghana.

While widely lauded, it has faced hurdles related to resource constraints.