We will review all flagship programs including free SHS -Government informs IMF
Finally, the government has indicated that it is taking steps to review all flagship programsas part of its objective to strengthen fiscal policy.
According to the government, "structural decisions will be based on the assessment of efficiency, effectiveness and value for money for each program" and for social programs it will prepare and support the budget envelope and SDG goals. “Flagshipprograms including 1 Village 1 Dam, 1 District 1 Warehouseand Infrastructure Project for Poverty Eradication (IPEP) will also be reviewed and revised.
"Procedure 111 will be renewed after five years (2022-27) in order to invest in ABFAGIIF for health equipment," he emphasized. In the IMF's May 2023 country report on Ghana, it said the government promised to "review all the government'sflagship programs and come up with a plan to decide their future direction."
JoyNews analysis from the 2023 budget statement reveals that the government has listed 16 programs as flagship programs which are expectedto cost the state GH¢9.2 billion.
A close examination of theprevious budget statementpresented by the Minister ofFinance Ken Ofori-Atta in Parliament shows that theflagship program received a budget allocation of GH¢33 billion over three years (2020-2023). . The free SHS programis a major part of the government's flagship programand is estimated to cost aboutGH¢2.9 billion. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has described free SHS as well-targeted. The IMF made this observation in its latest country report on Ghana.
According to the Fund, the flagship Free Senior High School (SHS) program "which fully covers high school fees,has helped increase enrollment but is poorly targeted".
The IMF also showed that Ghana spends almost 4% of its GDP on education with good results in terms of educationbut poor learning outcomes. Key areas identified by the IMF as requiring potential improvement in education spending include strengthening primary education infrastructure, better teacher training, and a stronger performance-based investment model.
JoyNews analysis has furtherrevealed that the free SHS program has had an over budget of over GHS 11.3 billion since 2019. In the 2023 budget, the government showed its commitment by announcingthat the implementation of the free SHS program is still stagnant.
He also said that "the currentnumber of beneficiaries is1,308,816 students for the academic year 2021/22".
He added that in 2023, "the government will continue to implement the free SHS program and continue to support access to various educational resources."
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo, who spoke at a rally organized by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of the Kumawu by-election, said President Mahama did not agree with his stance on the zero SHS policy. According to him, the NDC flag bearers have changed his argument by canceling the program andexpanding it to private graduateschools. Consistency, he said, does not make President Mahama credible. In July 2022, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta said the review of the free secondary school policy was still ongoing.
He explained that the Ministry of Education continues to review the policy with the aim of understanding how parents can be involved in a non-coercive way. “Reformation is always a possibility on the table. That is just to ensure that proper education is providedand waste is eliminated and it gives us value for money,” Mr.Ofori-Atta told George Wiafe of Joy Business in an interview.
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