Thomas Nyarko Ampem, the Deputy Minister-Designate for Finance, has reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, emphasizing that there are no plans to cancel the program.
He made this statement during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, February 24, 2025.
Nyarko Ampem, who is also the Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman, assured that he will work closely with the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, to secure adequate funding for the implementation of the policy.
“I will do everything in my power to assist the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, to secure adequate funding to support the implementation of the policy,” he said.
He clarified that his concerns about Free SHS are not related to funding but rather its implementation. “If I have any concern about free SHS, it is not about the funding it is rather the implementation,” Nyarko Ampem stated.
Nyarko Ampem’s statement comes amid the ongoing National Education Forum, which was launched by President John Mahama on February 18, 2025.
The forum aims to gather views and ideas for the effective implementation of Ghanaian educational policies.
President Mahama had previously indicated that he would not cancel the Free SHS program, and Nyarko Ampem has reiterated this commitment.
“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.