A Communications Team Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Fred Amankwah Sarfo, has defended the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy despite criticism from various stakeholders.
Speaking during a discussion on TV3 NewDay with Roland Walker, he acknowledged the challenges associated with the implementation of the policy but insisted that its significance outweighs the difficulties.
“Others were preaching against the implementation of the Free SHS. We had to come into office and do it to show them that this is doable. There have been challenges since the implementation of Free SHS. Everybody knows that. But as we go along, we will correct them,” he assured on January 27.
Sarfo took issue with critics who have questioned the motives behind the policy, particularly claims that the former president lacked commitment and introduced the policy merely to fulfill political objectives.
He described such assertions as “unfair,” urging Ghanaians to focus on addressing the challenges rather than dismissing the policy entirely.
“The fact that there are challenges does not defeat the importance of the policy. The policy is fantastic. If there are challenges, let’s find solutions and not throw the baby away with the bathwater,” Sarfo stated passionately.
He further highlighted the polarized debate surrounding Free SHS, where some question its viability while others laud it as a transformative initiative. He insisted that the conversation should not be reduced to a simple binary question of whether the policy is good or bad but should instead center on how to improve its implementation.
The Free SHS policy, a flagship programme of the NPP government, has faced scrutiny since its inception. Critics argue that the policy was poorly planned, leading to issues such as overcrowding and inadequate resources in schools.
However, its proponents hail it as a groundbreaking initiative that has increased access to secondary education for thousands of Ghanaian students.
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By Christabel Success Treve
