President Mahama has reaffirmed his government’s dedication to continue the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of deputy ministers on March 12, 2025, he emphasized that a review of the Free SHS policy does not mean it has been cancelled.
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President Mahama noted that the 2025 Budget has demonstrated his government’s resolve to improve the initiative due to the challenges it has been bedeviled with rather than abolish it.
“We’ve also proven through the budget statement that review does not mean cancel. Once and for all, for those who don’t understand English, review does not mean to cancel,” Mahama stressed in response to critics who have questioned the NDC’s position on the policy.
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has announced that government has allocated a budget of GH¢3.5 billion for the Free SHS programme for the year 2025.
During the presentation of the 2025 Budget Statement and economic policy in Parliament on Tuesday, March 11, he further disclosed that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) has been uncapped to ensure sustainable funding for free secondary education.
The President described the uncapping of GETFund as a lasting solution to the inadequate funding for Free SHS.
“We have finally found a remedy for the long-lasting problem of the lack of dedicated funds for Free SHS. By uncapping the GETFund, we have freed resources under the single largest allocation to the Free SHS programme an amount of GH¢3.5 billion since the programme started in 2017,” Mr Mahama announced.
Mahama swears-in 13 Deputy Ministers, Minister of State for Public Sector Reforms
