How Ken Ofori-Atta, others nearly blocked Akufo-Addo from implementing Free SHS – Kabila explains

Speaking on a panel discussion on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo program on August 21, 2024, Kabila revealed that the president faced resistance not only from the public but also from members of his government.

He specifically mentioned the then Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, who had proposed a selective implementation of the Free SHS programme.

“People criticised the Free SHS to a certain stage, and if not because the president was brave enough to implement it, he would have dropped it.

“Including some of his own ministers, in fact, his Minister for Finance felt that there should have been a selective approach. But if you want it to be selective, which people are you going to choose for Free SHS?” Kabila remarked during the discussion.

Kabila emphasised the programme’s impact: “Today, Free SHS has come to eradicate all iniquities that were preventing people from attending school. We have to commend President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for that.”

The Free SHS policy, which has provided free secondary education to hundreds of thousands of Ghanaian students, has been widely praised as one of the president’s most significant legacies.

However, the policy has also sparked political debate, with former President John Dramani Mahama claiming credit for laying the foundation for the initiative by implementing it progressively during his tenure.