Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) flagbearer, has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of mismanaging the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme in Ghana. Speaking at the NPP's National Delegates Conference in Kumasi on October 3, 2026, Dr. Bawumia expressed concerns over students' meals, school placements, and the continued operation of the double-track system. He claimed that the NDC government had failed to improve feeding arrangements for students, leading to a deterioration in meal quality.
Dr. Bawumia also raised concerns about the school placement process for candidates who completed the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). Some parents seeking placements for their children were told that their wards did not qualify, causing frustration among families. The NPP flagbearer argued that the NDC government's handling of the policy reflected their longstanding opposition to the initiative before it became a major feature of Ghana's education system.
The Free SHS programme was introduced in 2017 under the NPP government to expand access to public senior high school education across Ghana. Dr. Bawumia maintained that the programme would be better managed if the NPP were in office, stating that it would "be truly functioning as intended" under their leadership. He also claimed that many Ghanaians were not surprised by the NDC government's management of the programme, given their past criticism of the initiative.
During the conference, Dr. Bawumia criticized the NDC government's retention of the double-track system, which was introduced following the expansion of enrolment under the Free SHS programme. He argued that this system was a result of the NDC's opposition to the programme and their failure to effectively manage its implementation.
The NPP's criticism of the NDC government's handling of the Free SHS programme comes amid concerns about the effectiveness of the policy. While the programme has expanded access to senior high school education, issues with meal quality, school placements, and the double-track system have been raised. Dr. Bawumia's comments reflect the NPP's efforts to highlight the challenges facing the programme and promote their own vision for education in Ghana.
In response to Dr. Bawumia's comments, the NDC government has faced criticism for its management of the Free SHS programme. The Majority Leader had previously stated that the NDC government was a better implementer of the programme, citing its successes in expanding access to education. However, Dr. Bawumia's comments suggest that the NPP remains critical of the NDC's approach to the programme.
The Free SHS programme remains a significant aspect of Ghana's education system, with ongoing debates about its effectiveness and implementation. As the NPP and NDC continue to engage in discussions about the programme, stakeholders will be watching closely to see how the government addresses concerns about meal quality, school placements, and the double-track system.
Key points
- Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia criticizes NDC government's handling of Free SHS programme.
- Concerns raised over meal quality, school placements, and double-track system.
- NPP and NDC engage in debate over programme's effectiveness and implementation.
