Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Vice Chairman of the 2024 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Manifesto Committee and Minister for Works & Housing has alleged that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has plans to modify the popular Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy through means-testing as a basis for determining eligibility.

In a ten-minute video, the second in an eight-part series, Oppong Nkrumah argued that young Ghanaians should consider the NDC’s stance on education policy before casting their votes on December 7. He urged voters to support Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, to preserve the Free SHS program in its current form.

“I want to proof to you today that the NDC does not believe in Free SHS. I want to show you the NDC’s blue print for financing education.
“It is called the ‘Education Strategic Plan’. It was under the signature of Betty Mould Iddrisu who was Minister of Education at the time.”
Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister for Works & Housing

To support his claims, Oppong Nkrumah cited page 29 of the document, alleging that the NDC’s agenda would restrict access to Free SHS and Free TVET, making them unavailable to all Ghanaians regardless of financial status.

Oppong Nkrumah asserted that the document recommends denying boarding subsidies to students from higher-income families and suggests that only those classified as “needy,” especially from underserved regions such as the north, would qualify for support.

According to Oppong Nkrumah, this approach would ultimately restrict access to quality education, disproportionately impacting families lacking government connections.

One of the most controversial aspects of Oppong Nkrumah’s accusations is the claim that the NDC plans to introduce “student self-help schemes,” which would require students to engage in labor-intensive activities, such as cooking and cleaning, to support their education financially.

Oppong Nkrumah cited this proposal as indicative of the NDC’s underlying intentions to make education more burdensome for low-income families.

“This is the NDC’s real belief,” Oppong Nkrumah argued, “that students from poor backgrounds should be encouraged to work hard labor to pay for their education. Not my words; it’s in their strategic plan.”

According to him, such a strategy would not only create additional challenges for underprivileged students but also deepen inequalities in the education system.

He claimed that if implemented, the plan would create an education system driven by favoritism, where parents with strong political ties to the NDC could secure better access to educational resources for their children.

NPP’s Position on Free SHS: Universal Access

In drawing a clear contrast, Oppong Nkrumah emphasized the NPP’s commitment to fully accessible, universal education for all qualified students, regardless of their financial or social background.

“NPP’s view is different,” Oppong Nkrumah explained. “Our stance is that every child who qualifies for senior high school should have their fees fully paid for, without discrimination.”

“Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr Bawumia started Free SHS in 2017 and since then, about 5.7 million Ghanaian Children have benefitted from this programme. Millions of households have been saved from paying an average of about GHc 3,500.00 since 2017.”
Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister for Works & Housing

He emphasized the benefits millions of Ghanaians have gained from the policy, which has provided free secondary education to families from diverse backgrounds, including Christians, Muslims, and people across different income levels.

The debate over Free SHS highlights divergent perspectives between Ghana’s two major political parties. The NPP argues that maintaining a universal free education policy aligns with the needs of a rapidly developing Ghana, ensuring that every child has the chance to achieve their academic and career aspirations without financial hindrance.

Oppong Nkrumah warned that shifting to a means-tested system would only exacerbate existing educational disparities, making it harder for students from disadvantaged backgrounds to excel.

Further, Oppong Nkrumah expressed concerns about the possible consequences of a means-tested model, suggesting that such a policy could lead to increased corruption. “What that will actually mean,” he argued, “is that if you don’t have connections to NDC officials, you’re not going to get Free SHS.”

Oppong Nkrumah reiterated his belief that Dr. Bawumia and the NPP are best positioned to uphold Free SHS, contrasting this with what he described as the NDC’s unreliable record on the issue.

“No one will be barred from attending and benefiting from free secondary education under an NPP government,” he promised, emphasizing that the policy would remain inclusive for students across Ghana.

This rhetoric suggests that education will remain a highly contested issue in the upcoming election, as the NPP and NDC put forth competing visions for Ghana’s future. As the campaign heats up, Free SHS is likely to remain a focal point, shaping the national dialogue and influencing the choices of millions of Ghanaians on December 7.