The Most Reverend Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle has joined the chorus of voices calling for a rethinking of the free Senior High School (SHS) policy.
Despite the policy's benefits to parents, the Rev. Father feels that stakeholders must be included in order to solve the policy's difficulties and enhance its outcomes.
"I wholeheartedly endorse the free SHS program. "However, now is the moment to engage stakeholders in a review of the free SHS," he stated.
He made the statements during the inauguration of "Accra ACA, Bleoo, The History of the Accra Academy from James Town to Bubuashie," a book about the Accra Academy.
Simon Ontoyin, a graduate of the University of Ghana and an alumni of Accra, wrote the 726-page book. Mr. Ontoyin explained that he was motivated to write the book after seeing how little information on the school is available on the internet.
Reverend Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, speaking to the crowd, admitted that while the policy has benefited parents whose children are enrolled in the program, it may be improved to improve Senior High School education in the country.
This adds to the countless requests for a reassessment of the policy.
Rev. Ntim Fordjour, Deputy Education Minister and Member of Parliament for the Assin South Constituency, was the main speaker at the occasion. Rev. Ntim Fordjour, for one, stated that the policy's implementation will require collaboration from all parties to solve current obstacles.
He went on to say that global crises like the Russia-Ukraine conflict have hurt many economies, including Ghana's.
Some have suggested that the program be changed to assure the quality of education, as some believe it is a major drain on the country's resources.
Students engaged in the program confront several challenges, ranging from a lack of adequate infrastructure to a lack of food and other obstacles.
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta said the policy should have targeted people with actual needs rather than being designed to benefit everyone just a year after it was implemented. He claimed that persons in his financial category should not benefit from such policies.