Former Finance Minister Seth Terkper has proposed that Ghana’s free senior high school (SHS) programme should be limited to day students, similar to the systems in Europe and the United States.

Terkper noted that in these regions, boarding schools are typically reserved for elite and brilliant but needy students who secure scholarships.

He questioned why the government of Ghana should bear the full cost of the free SHS programme, which has already cost GHS 9.9 billion since its introduction by the Akufo-Addo administration in 2017.

When asked how the incoming Mahama government plans to generate revenue to fund programmes like free SHS while removing certain taxes, Terkper called for a discussion involving the diaspora. He highlighted that secondary education in Europe and the US is free for day students, with the government providing transportation such as yellow buses.

Terkper emphasized that in developed countries, boarding schools are typically attended by the elite or talented students on scholarships. He questioned the sustainability of Ghana’s current approach, stating, “Why don’t we follow their examples? What makes us think that we should support free SHS unfettered? Unfettered in the sense that the government takes every cost.

Chief Executive Officer of Dalex Finance, Joe Jackson, has raised concerns about how the incoming Mahama administration will generate revenue for development if it removes all the taxes it has promised to abolish. Jackson highlighted the significant challenges in managing the economy, particularly with the manifesto pledge to remove certain taxes, including the e-levy.

Ahead of the 2024 general elections, National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate John Dramani Mahama promised to scrap several taxes within his first 100 days in office, arguing that these taxes burden Ghanaians. The taxes include the e-levy, COVID levy, 10% levy on betting, emissions levy, and import duty on vehicles and equipment imported for industrial and agricultural purposes.

Speaking on TV3 on Friday, December 13, Jackson said, “Let us not be mistaken, in 2025, we have to look at how we are performing in terms of revenue because some of the items are going to go out. There has been a manifesto commitment to take out the e-levy, betting tax, the COVID levy. So a lot of issues are going to come out and I have no doubt in my mind that the challenge is going to be huge.”

He added, “You say you are going to remove tax A, B, C, D. But where is the money going to come from?”

When asked why anyone would want to be president in 2025 given the impending challenges, Jackson responded, “Because somebody has to step up and rule, somebody has to step up and fix the country, somebody has to step up.”