The finance minister told the press on Tuesday that the government is dedicated to ensuring that all children of school age have access to high-quality education.
He highlighted that the initiative is a long-term strategy for transforming the nation.
“Let me say this, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has absolutely no intention to roll back on a major policy like Free SHS.
“We see education as the best enabler for sustainable economic growth and transformation and will do more to improve on it for it to serve more and better our children,” he stated.
His revelation comes after Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, former President John Mahama’s running mate for the 2020 presidential election, said that she is waiting with bated breath for the definition of ‘review’ that would be applied to the government’s key programs.
Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, the Information Minister, said earlier this week that the government would review all of its 16 flagship programs, including the Free SHS programme.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang, however, could not comprehend why the same people who alleged that former President John Mahama meant ‘cancel’ when he used the word ‘review’ want to do what they once criticised.
“When we said ‘review’ others said we were going to cancel. Today, we are waiting for the definition of review from the ‘Black Dictionary’ since that is the source that they use for many things,” she said at the launch of TEIN App on Monday.
President Akufo-Addo said before the 2020 election that Ghanaians should not allow the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to review the country’s hallmark Free SHS program whenever it assumes power.
Mr Mahama’s return, according to the President, might result in the program’s termination.
The NDC flagbearer cited inadequate consultation with stakeholders in exploring the most effective ways to implement the programme.
Earlier this week, conversations on Free SHS arose when the government announced a review of its flagship programmes.
The Free SHS programme was a major campaign promise by then-candidate Nana Akufo-Addo in 2016, which has subsequently become an essential part of the educational system.
However, a year after its implementation, Mr Ofori-Atta himself said the policy should have targeted persons with genuine needs and not made to benefit everyone.
As one of the leading campaigners for change in government in 2016, the Minister said people in his economic bracket should not be enjoying such a policy.
“True, it may be that there have to be changes in the way we are administering it. I can’t take my child to Achimota or Odorgono and leave him or her there and drive away and not pay for anything whiles I can pay for ten people,” he said.
As a result of the present economic crisis, the government has been obliged to consider interim measures to alleviate the sufferings that Ghanaians are now experiencing.