John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has defended his proposal to dismantle the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) Secretariat, citing concerns about corruption and mismanagement.

In an interview with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) on November 29, 2024, Mahama outlined his vision for improving the Free SHS program by restructuring its administration to ensure better efficiency and accountability.

Mahama emphasized that, if elected president, he intends to transfer the management of the Free SHS initiative to the Ghana Education Service (GES). He believes this will place the program under a more established institutional framework, allowing for stronger oversight and reducing inefficiencies.

“We must assess the existing challenges and address the gaps moving forward. This government is notorious for wasteful duplication and creating unnecessary offices just to provide jobs for the boys,” Mahama stated. “The GES is mandated to oversee the education sector, so it makes no sense to have a standalone Free SHS Secretariat. Reports of corruption and mismanagement are concerning, and it’s time to return the program to GES for better supervision.”

Under Mahama’s plan, Senior High School coordinators would continue in their roles but would operate under the direct supervision of GES, ensuring a more streamlined and accountable approach to managing the Free SHS policy.