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Eduwatch questions essence of new bill, says Free SHS already has legal backing
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Education think-tank Africa Education Watch has raised questions about the rationale behind the government’s decision to introduce the Free Senior High School bill to give legal backing to the policy.
This follows a disclosure at a press briefing ahead of Parliament’s resumption from break on Tuesday addressed by Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, on June 11, 2024.
He revealed that a finalised bill is ready for presentation by the Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum. According to him, the move is to prevent any government from attempting to abort the policy.
Speaking to Accra-based Citi FM, Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare said the policy already has legal backing and does not require another law.
According to him, he rather expects the government to focus on improving the policy by addressing the various challenges plaguing it.
He said, “I am a bit lost because in December 2020 Parliament passed a law called the Pre-Tertiary Education Law which is Act 10(49). This law which was assented on 29th December 2020 has free SHS captured under section 3 which says that ‘Secondary education in its different forms including TVET shall be free and accessible to all eligible candidates. So this provision in the pre-tertiary education law is to give legal effect, is to give binding effect.”
“…I think that perhaps the only reason is, it is a legacy reason. It looks more political legacy kind of style. But in reality, if you ask me the top 10 challenges or problems that require urgent attention on the Free SHS policy, the law would not be in the [space] of 10,” he stated.
Also, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Education Committee, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, has already criticised the move.
Nortsu-Kotoe questioned the need for a law to regulate or entrench the Free SHS programme, highlighting the lack of an official policy document on free SHS despite requests made to the previous and current education ministers over the past seven to eight years.
The bill, soon to be presented to Parliament, seeks to regulate and sustain the policy beyond the current government.
The Tema Regional Police Command has arrested a 32-year-old man for allegedly posing as a soldier and extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public at Ashaiman.
The suspect, identified as Bright Atsu Kudiabor, was arrested by the Ashaiman Police on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at about 7:00 a.m.
According to the Police, he was arrested at an area known as “I Shall Return”, where he was allegedly parading himself as a soldier and demanding money from people.
The Police said Kudiabor, who is an ex-convict, was initially arrested by personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service in Ashaiman with assistance from other members of the public.
A search conducted on him after he was handed over to the Police reportedly led to the recovery of a set of military camouflage uniform.
The suspect is currently in Police custody and assisting with investigations.
The Tema Regional Police Command said he would be processed for court after investigations are completed.
The Police urged the public to remain vigilant and report anyone who falsely presents themselves as a soldier or a member of another security agency to deceive or extort money from the public.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, says the Volta Region holds enormous agricultural potential and efforts must be geared towards connecting farmers to the needed resources to unlock that potential.
He said focus must be on linking farmers to resources, technology, financing and markets to increase production, create jobs and build sustainable livelihoods.
Hon. Gunu made the remarks at the national launch of the Ghana Tomato Self-Sufficiency Initiative (GHATSI) held at Anloga in the Volta Region on Tuesday, September 15.
The initiative, under the theme “Produce at Home. Feed the Nation. Export the Surplus,” seeks to boost local tomato production, processing and marketing while reducing Ghana’s heavy reliance on imported tomatoes.
The launch was attended by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, his Deputy, John Setor Dumelo, Feed Ghana Coordinator, Bright Demordzi, Members of Parliament, traditional leaders, MMDCEs, farmers and other stakeholders.
Mr.Gunu expressed appreciation to the Minister for Food and Agriculture for the support announced for the region, including two excavators, 200 cartons of organic fertiliser, and GH¢200,000 for Ms. Kuatudzo Esther Dela, a tomato farmer and processor from Ziope.
He described the initiative as an important step towards making agriculture a stronger driver of food security, job creation and economic growth in the Volta Region.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
