A Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament, Dr. Clement Apaak, has thrown salvos at President Akufo-Addo for his comments on the free Senior High School (SHS) policy.

The President, speaking at the 2024 Ghana Bar Association’s conference in Kumasi on Monday, September 9, 2024, asked those who felt they could afford the free SHS and wanted to pay, or felt that what was being delivered was not the best, to send their children to private senior schools.

President Akufo-Addo asserted that the policy has benefitted many underprivileged students and increased the number of enrollments in secondary schools.

He said people who can afford to pay fees for the education of their wards should send them to fee-paying private schools.

“Public schools, schools funded by the taxpayer, should be free to all who would otherwise be unable to pay for their education. That is why the number of people who have access to second-cycle education has doubled since the introduction of the free senior high school policy,” he said.

Dr. Clement Apaak, serving as the 2024 campaign spokesperson on education for the John Dramani Mahama campaign, addressed the president’s remarks, deeming them regrettable. He said the president feel frustrated because parents were not clapping as he expected, so he could use that as a political tool.

He declared that parents and their children have become aware of the policy’s shortcomings and are disappointed in the president and his administration for their failure to adequately administer the policy.

In a statement, the Builsa South MP said it was not possible for parents to have commended his government for the shambolic implementation of an otherwise good policy.

He wrote, “In fact, Akufo-Addo should stop acting as if he is the originator of the FSHS concept and is using his personal resources to fund the program. He is not the originator of FSHS, and neither is he using his own money to fund it.

"The policy is funded with our oil money and taxes. Parents are taxpayers and have every right not to be impressed with the implementation challenges he has failed to resolve.”

Additionally, he highlighted the inadequate and unwholesome food served to students in our schools as some of the issues affecting the policy that require attention.