Sulemana Braimah, Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), has voiced concerns over the Free Senior High School (SHS) initiative, describing it as a well-intentioned but poorly implemented program that has been politicized. Speaking on Joy News’ AM Show, Braimah argued that while the initiative aims to benefit students, the lack of transparency and the politicized approach have hindered its effectiveness.
He noted that the government’s portrayal of the policy as entirely “free” has led to unmet expectations, as many parents still incur costs for essentials like textbooks and uniforms. Braimah suggested that involving teachers and parents in the policy could improve its impact. The Free SHS program, a key promise from President Nana Akufo-Addo, was launched in 2017, boosting secondary school enrollment from 308,799 in 2016 to around 1.4 million today. Despite this, critics argue that it has compromised education quality due to inadequate resources and planning.
