Free SHS Debt: Govt owes companies, individuals over GHC6bn – Minority

Ghana’s Minority in Parliament has revealed that the free SHS program championed by the NPP government under akufo-Addo’s administration is in debt for oweing over 6 billion Ghana cedis to companies, individuals and organisations that have business deals with the Free Senior High School policy.

The Minority caucus in Parliament disclosed that the NPP government has failed to reimburse over GHC300 million funds used in the procurement of the GHC1.3 million tablets for the ‘One Student One laptop initiative’.

The Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament, Peter Nortsu Kotoe, in a address to the media explained that the “Free SHS is a very laudable programme, it has provided access to secondary education for quite a large number of people who wouldn’t have had the opportunity, looking at the cost involved at that time.

“However, the programme is facing a lot of challenges and one of them has to do with Finance. As we speak now, the financial challenges are becoming too much and it’s going through the roof. I can say that the information available to me indicates that over GHC6 billion is being owed to companies, individuals and organisations in relation to Free SHS.

“This year, they launched the tablets for SHSs, because this is going to reduce the burden on the printing of textbooks. So, the idea is fine, we support it, when you look at the NDC 2020 manifesto, it’s there, we even added tertiary institutions.

ALSO READ: Ghana Cocoa Bounces Back After Six Straight Years of Losses

“You have asked somebody to supply GHC1.3 million tablets, to cover all students and you’re not paying for it. The man has gone for a loan which is at the cost of 37 million and you’re not paying… You have paid him less than 10%; how will the person pay the loan? As a minority, we’re concerned. If we do this, we’re killing businesses of individuals and companies in the country. So, there’s a need for us to intervene.”

The Minority adds that the government owes the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) a total amount of GHC224 million, frustrating plans towards the conduct of WASSCE.

“Government still owes WAEC, exams will start in August [but] government has not released any money to WAEC, they owe them a total of GHC224 million, so WAEC is unable to talk again, we shouldn’t be going on that tangent.”

Share Our Post on the Topic ‘Free SHS Debt: Govt owes companies, individuals over GHC6bn – Minority’.

To Read More Stories, Click Here.