
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has responded to calls for the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy to be targeted, suggesting that individuals who can afford private school fees should send their wards to private institutions.
His comments come in light of concerns regarding the financial strain the FSHS policy places on the national budget.
During the 2024/2025 Annual General Conference of the Ghana Bar Association in Kumasi, the President defended the policy, stating that public schools funded by taxpayers must remain free for all, particularly for those who would otherwise be unable to afford secondary education.
He noted that since the introduction of the policy, the number of pupils accessing secondary education has doubled, benefiting over 5.7 million individuals.
President Akufo-Addo’s remarks followed a proposal from Yaw Acheampong Boafo, the President of the Ghana Bar Association, who urged the government to reconsider the Free SHS policy.
Boafo suggested that affluent families should contribute to the funding of education to allow more resources to be directed towards less privileged students.
In his defense, the President emphasized that public education should remain accessible for all, particularly for those in need, while encouraging wealthier families to consider private schooling options for their children.