President-elect John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining Ghana's Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, refuting suggestions that his administration will eliminate it.

In an interview with Voice of America (VOA), Mahama highlighted that these claims, made mostly by New Patriotic Party (NPP) officials during the election campaign, were unsubstantiated political propaganda.

"Free SHS has come to stay, and it is not going anywhere," says Mahama. "No one is going to scrap Free SHS. What was said was political rhetoric and gimmickry. We intend to keep it; nevertheless, we will seek special funding for it.

The Free SHS Policy

The Free SHS scheme, launched in 2017 under the Akufo-Addo administration, offers free tuition, boarding, and food to students in public senior high schools. It has given hundreds of thousands of Ghanaian youngsters, particularly those from poor homes, access to secondary school.

However, the strategy has experienced obstacles such as overcrowded classrooms, limited infrastructure, and delayed budget release, all of which have had an impact on its quality and execution.

Mahama's position is to maintain the programme's primary benefits while resolving these difficulties. His aim involves finding a dependable funding mechanism to ease financial limitations and improve the quality of education provided by the system.

John Mahama's commitment to Free SHS was an important aspect of his campaign theme, which resonated with many Ghanaians concerned about educational access and equity. His triumph in the December 7 elections proved decisive.

The Electoral Commission pronounced him the winner with 6,328,397 votes, or 56.55% of all valid ballots cast. He defeated his closest challenger, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of the NPP, who received 4,657,304 votes (41.61%).

This victory heralds Mahama's return to the president, after serving as Ghana's leader from 2012 to 2017. His campaign centered on themes of economic recovery, combating corruption, and enhancing social programs such as education and health care.

The Free SHS policy was a divisive issue during the elections, with the NPP warning that if won, Mahama would repeal it. Mahama's robust reaction is intended to reassure Ghanaians, particularly parents and pupils who have benefited from the project.

The President-elect has vowed to collaborate with education stakeholders to examine and improve the program, assuring long-term and efficient implementation.