The Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak says President Akufo-Addo’s legacy in education is not Free Senior High School (SHS) but rather indebtedness to his flagship program.

This follows President Akufo-Addo’s State of the Nation Address stating that 5.7 million young people have benefited from the Free Senior High School (FSHS) program.

Also, there are ongoing concerns over the government’s inability to pay arrears for perishables, recurrent fees, and food transportation costs.

The Eastern Regional Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), Peter Attah Gyamfi, has cautioned parents to prepare adequately for their children’s return to school if the government fails to settle outstanding debts owed to senior high schools.

Speaking on Koforidua-based Bryt FM on Tuesday, the CHASS chairman, who is also the headmaster of Pentecost Senior High School, stated:

“There are two options: either you give your child enough food and money, or he or she stays home.”

Speaking on Starr Today with Joshua Kodjo Mensah, the Builsa South lawmaker stated that President Akufo-Addo has left huge debts in the education sector.

“Look if we want to be honest, Free SHS is not Akufo-Addo’s legacy, it is indebtedness to Free Senior High School, which is the information available nothing more, nothing less.

“The President failed to tell you that examination malpractices since the first batch, or the first cohorts of the current policy who wrote their exams since 2020 have skyrocketed. Even the current batch whose results have just been published if you are to see the WAEC statement. The result was delayed because the government owed WAEC 118 million Ghana cedis”, Dr. Apaak stated.

He continued: “We all agree that Free Senior High School is a good policy but it has been poorly implemented. The challenges are self-evidence which is why Ghanaians overwhelmingly rejected Bawumia, Akufo-Addo, and the government and are bringing in John Mahama to come and improve, and sustain the good policy.”