Minister-designate for Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has challenged beneficiaries of the Free SHS program to work hard and exit with stellar results. This he says is necessary to ensure that the hundreds of millions currently being pumped into their education does not go waste.

Speaking at the Speech and Prize giving day of Abakrampa Secondary School in the Abora-Aseibu-kwamankese district, Nkrumah said despite government’s bold move to make education the top priority and thus remove the cost barrier to access, stakeholders including Parents, local communities, PTAs, School staff and most importantly students all have a role to still play in raising the Ghanaian child.

He challenged parents to put the about 1,000 Cedis savings on boarding students and about 600 Cedis on day students to alternative use as this represented money the government had put in their pockets by paying the fees for their wards.

“Having put this money in your pocket, you now have an opportunity to put that money to alternative use. Expand your business, start one or deposit in a fund for your wards future. Do something positive with the money put in your pocket.”

To the students, the minister challenged them to rise to excellence, a pursuit of results and discipline; values which the Minister-designate admonished are necessary if they are to succeed with their education.