Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo, a distinguished academic from the University of Ghana, has openly criticized Ghana’s Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, highlighting significant gaps in its implementation that she says are unfairly burdening parents and disrupting students’ futures.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile monitored by MyNewsGH, Prof. Ampofo painted a sobering picture of the program’s unintended consequences.

“Parents are being forced to send food to their children in schools,” she stated. “And in many cases, they’re not just providing for their own kids but for others whose parents can’t afford it. This is a clear indication that the system is not working as intended.”

Her comments bring attention to the financial struggles faced by many families despite the program’s promise of free education.

The policy, implemented in 2017 by the Akufo-Addo administration, was designed to remove financial barriers to secondary education, but critics argue that hidden costs and inefficiencies have undermined its effectiveness.

Prof. Ampofo also took aim at delays in the release of West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results, an issue that has disrupted the academic calendar and tertiary admissions.

“We’re told the government owes the West African Examinations Council. If revenue figures are as impressive as claimed, why hasn’t this debt been cleared? Why are students and their futures being disrupted?” she questioned.

Her remarks resonate with many parents and educators who have long called for a review of the program. While the government touts the Free SHS as a flagship achievement, growing concerns about its sustainability and impact on quality education have sparked heated debate.

Beyond the immediate issues, Prof. Ampofo’s comments underscore a larger problem: the lack of transparency in how education policies are funded and implemented.

“There needs to be an honest conversation about what free education truly means,” she said. “Parents shouldn’t have to shoulder the burden in secret, while the government claims all the credit.”