“Without a sound economic policy, you cannot sustain free SHS – John Kwaku Amponsah
John Kwaku Amponsah has acknowledged the benefits of the free SHS policy but firmly stated that, without a sound economic policy, the NPP government cannot guarantee its continuation.
“Anyone who wants to challenge me should do so,” he declared confidently in support of his position.
This comment came after the host presented results from an Afrobarometer survey showing that 85 out of every 100 Ghanaians surveyed wished for the free Senior High School policy to continue, regardless of any change in government.
Mr. Amponsah suggested that these survey results should influence voters’ decisions in the upcoming elections. He noted that, according to the Afrobarometer data, the most concerning issue for Ghanaians was the high cost of living.
Expanding on this, he emphasized that this pressing issue arose from underlying economic challenges that required urgent attention.
He pointed out that the national debt had reached over 700 billion cedis and would continue to increase if the root causes were not addressed.
“How, then, will we sustain this free SHS program that most Ghanaians want?” he questioned.
Speaking on behalf of the Movement for Change Party, Mr. Amponsah stated that the nation is currently experiencing the harsh realities of economic hardship.
He implied that even though the free SHS program is presented as free, there are still hidden costs. To illustrate, he shared a personal experience where he spent close to GHC 4,000 to support a family in need of school supplies for their child, who was a beneficiary of the program.
The question was then posed: “Is it possible to make the free SHS truly free?”
Mr. Amponsah responded, “It depends on the foundation you build for your economy.” He went on to say that any country that overtaxes its citizens lacks innovative policies.
Referencing an example shared by Senior Shack on digitalization, Mr. Amponsah argued that to fully leverage any transformative trend, a nation must develop its own unique model.
He highlighted that the nation would not see any financial gain from the digitalization efforts led by the NPP government, as importing drones would direct funds out of the country.
To foster economic growth, he suggested that national institutions could create the necessary systems locally, allowing the economic benefits to remain within the country. He added, “Any nation that lives within its means will not need to borrow.”
He advocated for reducing the size of the government and leasing infrastructure projects to the private sector, which would help fund the continuation of the free SHS policy.
He pointed out that all of this is outlined in the New Patriotic Party’s manifesto, yet the party has neglected to implement these plans.
In closing, he stated that while leaders understand the right path for governing the nation, they are hindered by a corrupt strategy aimed at securing votes to maintain power.
Story By: Juliet Ayiih
