The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has called for an urgent and comprehensive review of the data concerning beneficiaries of Ghana’s Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme.
During his first official visit to the Ministry on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, after being sworn in by President John Dramani Mahama, Mr. Iddrisu highlighted inconsistencies in the reported numbers.
While public and parliamentary records suggest 5.1 million beneficiaries, his research estimates the actual figure to be 3.9 million.
“I am not claiming that my figures are definitive, but the reported figure of 5.1 million appears misleading. My analysis of the data from 2017 to 2023 suggests that the actual number of beneficiaries does not exceed 3.9 million. However, this needs to be validated as a matter of priority,” he said.
Mr. Iddrisu emphasized the importance of accurate data in shaping policy and announced plans for a National Education Conference to address the challenges in Ghana’s education sector.
