Free SHS: Govt owes companies, individuals over GH¢6bn – Minority

The Minority in Parliament has disclosed that the government is indebted to the tune of over GH6 billion to companies, individuals and organisations in relation to the Free Senior High School policy.

The caucus reveals that the government has failed to reimburse over GH¢300 million funds used in the procurement of the GH¢1.3 million tablets for the ‘One Student One laptop initiative’.

Addressing journalists in Accra, on Wednesday July 17, the Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament, Peter Nortsu Kotoe, said, “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.

“You have asked somebody to supply GH¢1.3 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 GH¢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 GH¢224 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 GH¢224 million, so WAEC is unable to talk again, we shouldn’t be going on that tangent.”