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Free SHS Policy transforms 5.7 million lives in Ghana- President Akufo-Addo tells World leaders at UN
Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has hailed his government’s flagship Free Senior High School (SHS) policy as a transformative initiative that has benefitted 5.7 million young people in the country, many of whom would have otherwise been denied the opportunity to receive a quality education.
Launched in 2017, the Free SHS policy has been a cornerstone of President Akufo-Addo’s administration, aimed at removing financial barriers to secondary education in Ghana. By covering the full cost of secondary education for all eligible students, the policy has significantly expanded access to schooling for children from all walks of life, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Speaking at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Akufo-Addo outlined the profound impact the policy has had on the nation’s youth and called for a global commitment to ensuring access to education for all children.
“Our flagship Free Senior High School policy has benefitted 5.7 million young people, many of whom would have been denied the opportunity to learn, to dream, and to succeed,” President Akufo-Addo told the global assembly.
He said, “This initiative has transformed the lives of millions, positioning the next generation of Ghanaians to take their place as leaders in the global economy.”
“This is just the beginning,” the President said, expressing his belief that access to education should not be limited by geography or circumstance.
He went further to say, “We need a global commitment to ensure that every child, no matter where they are born, has access to quality education. A world where children are left unprepared for the challenges ahead is not a just world.”
The President’s comments come at a time when many countries, particularly in the developing world, are grappling with educational inequities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing economic challenges.
In his address, President Akufo-Addo emphasized that education is a key driver of development, economic growth, and social mobility, and that investing in human capital is critical to addressing global poverty and inequality.
In Ghana, the Free SHS policy has been widely praised for its impact on educational outcomes and its role in leveling the playing field for students from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
According to government data, enrollment in secondary schools has increased significantly since the policy’s implementation, with many students who would have dropped out due to financial constraints now able to complete their education.
President Akufo-Addo’s remarks at the UN also highlighted other key initiatives his government has undertaken to ensure that “no one is left behind” in Ghana’s development. In addition to the Free SHS policy, he pointed to the Agenda 111 project, which aims to construct 111 hospitals across the country, particularly in underserved and remote areas.
“This is part of our broader goal of ensuring that no one in Ghana is left without the basic right to health,” he said.
The President also noted the success of the Programme for Planting for Food and Jobs, which has boosted food security and created jobs for millions of Ghanaians. He described the initiative as “a clear demonstration that, with the right policies and investments, we can transform our agricultural sector and ensure that no one goes hungry.”
Looking beyond Ghana’s borders, President Akufo-Addo urged world leaders to prioritize investments in education, healthcare, and economic development, arguing that these are the foundations of a just and equitable society.
“True peace comes from investing in education, healthcare, and economic development,” he said.
As he nears the end of his presidency, President Akufo-Addo’s message to the international community was clear: education is not just a right, but a critical tool for development and empowerment.
He said, “The decisions we make today will shape the future of our world,” he said, urging global leaders to act with courage and compassion to ensure that “no one is left behind.”
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Oxfam in Ghana donates medical equipment and essential drugs worth GH¢1.5 million to Kasoa Polyclinic
Oxfam in Ghana has donated medical equipment and essential drugs worth about GH¢1.5 million to the Kasoa Polyclinic to strengthen maternal and reproductive healthcare services in the municipality.
The presentation, which took place on Tuesday, June 24, 2026, at the premises of the clinic in Kasoa, formed part of the sustainability and legacy activities under the Power to Choose (P2C) Project.
The donated items included delivery beds, maternity beds, oxygen cylinders, neonatal resuscitation equipment, blood pressure monitors, newborn weighing scales, suction machines, delivery kits, essential medicines, medical theatre wear and other critical supplies to support quality healthcare delivery.
The Power to Choose Project is a seven-year initiative being implemented by Oxfam in Ghana in partnership with the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), WiLDAF Ghana, SEND Ghana, Norsaac and PARDA, with funding from Global Affairs Canada through Oxfam Quebec.
The project seeks to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights for young people, particularly adolescent girls, young women and young men living in vulnerable and marginalised conditions.
Addressing nurses and management of the hospital, the Country Director for Oxfam in Ghana, Mohammed-Anwar Sadat Adam, said the project, which began in 2021 and will run until early 2028, is being implemented in seven countries across Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
He said Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo are the two African countries benefiting from the project.
Mr. Adam noted that the project has already trained about 102 health workers in areas including youth-friendly services, emergency obstetric and neonatal care, family planning, gender-based violence response, respectful maternity care and inclusive healthcare delivery.
He said Oxfam and its partners conducted assessments at beneficiary facilities and identified equipment needs to help improve healthcare delivery.
According to him, the donation would create safe spaces where young women and girls could seek healthcare services without fear or stigma and would improve health outcomes in the community.
Mr. Adam thanked the Government of Canada, the Ghana Health Service, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Ghana (SOGOG), World Health Ghana and other partners for supporting the implementation of the project.
He urged the beneficiary facilities to ensure that the equipment is properly used and maintained to serve the community for many years.
A speech by the Municipal Health Director for Awutu Senya East, Dr. Stanley Kweku Yaidoo, which was read on his behalf by the Municipal Accountant, Rev. Dr. Askari Thomas, described the donation as timely and important.
He said quality healthcare delivery depends on manpower, financial resources and equipment, adding that healthcare workers cannot effectively deliver services without the necessary tools.
Dr. Yaidoo thanked Oxfam and its partners for selecting Kasoa as one of the beneficiary facilities and assured them that the equipment would be put to good use.
The Acting Medical Superintendent of Kasoa Polyclinic, Dr. Papa Kojo Arthur, expressed appreciation to Oxfam for its continuous support over the years through training and capacity building.
He said the equipment would greatly support the effective management of patients, particularly in maternal and child healthcare.
According to him, the donation would help reduce maternal and perinatal mortality in the municipality.
The donation formed part of efforts to strengthen the capacity of youth-friendly health facilities in eight implementing districts across five regions of Ghana to continue providing quality and accessible sexual and reproductive healthcare services beyond the lifespan of the project.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts (MoTCCA) has announced that an electronic copy of Ghana’s revised National Cultural Policy is now available online for free access by the public and stakeholders in the creative sector.
In a statement issued on June 22, the ministry said the revised policy was officially launched on June 9, 2026, at the National Theatre of Ghana in Accra.
According to the ministry, the decision to upload the document on its official website is aimed at ensuring widespread dissemination, increasing public awareness and promoting the effective implementation of the policy.
The ministry encouraged sector practitioners, stakeholders and members of the public to visit its website and read the document.
“The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, in the spirit of the Black Star Experience, remains committed to a transparent, inclusive and collaborative approach to building the better Ghana we want,” the statement said.
It added that it looks forward to the active participation of stakeholders in implementing the policy for the benefit of the country.
The ministry urged the public to take advantage of the free access to the policy document and familiarise themselves with its contents.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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