Free SHS Policy: Between Nana Addo And Mahama Who Started It? - This Is Everything You Need To Know

Nana Akufo-Addo, NPP used the Free SHS Policy in his campaign messages in 2008 and 2012 but he was in opposition however, John Dramani Mahama, NDC started it in 2015 – Read Details Below

Since Free Senior High School policy is a topic used as a campaign message for both the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Dramani Mahama, there’s an ongoing battle between NPP’s presidential candidate and the NDC presidential candidate and their fanatics as to who started the Free SHS policy.

The FREE SHS policy was started by Nana Akufo-Addo in 2008 and 2012 campaign messages. Although Nana Addo promised Ghanaians with the Free SHS policy, he however, lost in the elections held on 2008 and 2012.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2012 general elections trumpeted the Free SHS education policy as its main campaign message amidst opposition and rejection of the policy by the NDC.

‘Free SHS education’ was a campaign message of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) during the 2012 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

The NPP promised to implement a free education policy for every Senior High School (SHS) student.

However, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) insisted that instead of free SHS education, emphasis must be placed on ‘quality education’ and improving basic education.

But President John Mahama in his state of the nation address to Parliament on 25th February in 2014 announced that his government, will from 2015, start the implementation of the free SHS policy.

‘We must make education a priority again. The students of this nation deserve to have the confidence that comes from knowing that the education they are receiving will adequately prepare them to navigate this competitive global workplace,’ President Mahama said.

Nana Addo who was in opposition was amazed that Mahama has thought it wise to make implementations on Free SHS policy as he even congratulated him.

See screenshot below:

Fact-Check: President Akufo-Addo congratulated Mahama in 2014 for implementing Free SHS [Details]

Also, Nana Addo actually confirmed per a tweet he made on 9th December 2014 that it was Mahama who introduced the Free SHS in 2015.

In the tweet, Nana Addo wrote: “If president Mahama is, indeed, introducing free SHS in the 2015-2016 academic year, I would say alleluia”

See screenshot below:

Another publication made by state-owned publishing company, Ghana News Agency, that says that NPP cleared GHC30.1million Free SHS debt under NDC.

Below is a screenshot of that publication dated 12th Aug. 2020 on Ghanaweb.com as sourced to the Ghana News agency.

Although Mahama since he was in power implemented the Free SHS policy, it wasn’t that free as it is in Akufo-Addo’s government because there were amounts parents were to pay. In a publication by graphic.com.gh, Day students were to pay Ghc405.50 and Boarding students were to pay Ghc724.50

See screenshot below:

Also, during our searches Thedistin.com came across occasions John Mahama condemned the Free SHS policy and even called it Bogus. Also he revealed that it would collapse the Ghana Education System.

See screenshots below:

The policy as we have known today was one of the strongest campaign messages of the NPP party in 2016 and after winning power, they fulfilled their promises by implementing it.

Now, many young ones who were found in various social crimes are now enrolled in the Free SHS policy and also, it has put less pressure on parents.

Well, Mahama has come out to say that NPP doesn’t deserve the hype and credit they’re enjoying pertaining to the Free SHS because according to him, NDC implemented the policy in 2015.

He said even though he was the one that started it, NPP who didn’t have a clue of how to run it implemented it poorly and that’s why they rushed to introduce double track system, “I assure you, my countrymen, that within one year, I will cancel the double track.”

“We started the programme and the NPP came and continued it. Unfortunately, the implementation has been very poor, and so it ended us in double track,” Mahama said.

Mahama’s comments warranted a reply from Nana Addo. The president in his reply said if he can remember carefully, it was Mahama who was against Free SHS so why is he coming out now to lie that he started it at the first place?.

Watch the full details in the video below: