By Grace Zigah
NPP flagbearer for the 2028 presidential election, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of weakening the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme, particularly in the areas of student feeding and school placement.
Dr Bawumia made the claims on October 3, 2026, while addressing delegates and party supporters at the New Patriotic Party’s National Delegates Conference at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
According to him, the Free SHS policy, which he described as an important intervention for Ghanaian families, is facing difficulties under the current administration.
He specifically pointed to what he described as a deterioration in the quality of meals provided to students, arguing that the situation has worsened despite previous assurances by the government that feeding arrangements would be improved.
“Free Senior High School is suffering under the NDC. After they promised to improve meals for students, today it has deteriorated,” Dr Bawumia said.
Placement concerns
The NPP flagbearer also raised concerns about the placement of students who have completed the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE)
He explained some BECE leavers were being excluded from the Free SHS programme, leaving parents frustrated when they were informed that their children had not qualified for placement.
Dr Bawumia presented the alleged difficulties as part of broader concerns about the current management of the programme, although the remarks, as reported, did not provide specific figures on the number of students he claimed had been excluded.
Double-track system
Another major issue raised by Dr Bawumia was the continued existence of the double-track system, which was introduced following the implementation of Free SHS to accommodate increased enrolment.
He accused the NDC government of failing to fulfil its commitment to abolish the system, arguing that the party had previously criticised the arrangement while in opposition.
Dr Bawumia further questioned the NDC’s historical position on Free SHS, claiming that the party had initially been critical of the policy before eventually recognising its impact on households across the country.
“They never believed in it. They bastardised it for years. They called it 419, election after election, until they realised its impact on every household in Ghana,” he said.
Bawumia defends Free SHS
The comments form part of Dr Bawumia’s broader political argument ahead of the 2028 general election, in which he will lead the NPP’s presidential campaign.
He maintained that the Free SHS programme could operate more effectively under an NPP administration and suggested that his party would restore what he considers the intended effectiveness of the policy.
The Free SHS programme was introduced under the Akufo-Addo administration and became one of the NPP government’s flagship social interventions, significantly expanding access to secondary education.
Its implementation, however, has continued to generate political debate, particularly over funding, feeding, infrastructure, placement and the double-track system.
