The Deputy Minister-Designate for Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, emphasizing that there are no plans to cancel the programme.
Speaking during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, February 24, 2025, the Asuogyaman MP said he will do everything in his power to assist the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, to secure adequate funding to support the implementation of the policy.
Nyarko Ampem further clarified that his concerns about Free SHS are not related to its funding but rather its implementation.
“There is no subtle intention to cancel Free SHS. I will support my minister to provide adequate funding for education. As to the outcome of the education forum, if Ghanaians by consensus agree on a particular direction, and it becomes government policy, I will support it in any way. But like I said, President Mahama gave Ghanaians the indication that he will not cancel free SHS and I know President Mahama is a man of his word,” he stated.
“If I have any concern about free SHS, it is not about the funding it is rather the implementation.”
The Deputy Minister-Designate’s remarks come in the wake of the ongoing National Education Forum being held nationwide.
The initiative, aimed at gathering views and ideas for the effective implementation of Ghanaian educational policies, was launched by President John Mahama on February 18, 2025.
