President hints of law to make SHS least qualification for every Ghanaian child

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo exchanging pleasantries with the people of Beposo in the Ashanti region

President Nana Akufo-Addo has hinted of plans to introduce a new legislation that would ensure that every Ghanaian child acquires at least senior high education.

He explained the move is aimed at ending school dropouts at the basic level as well as ensuring that everyone gets meaningful employment.

“Very soon, we will pass legislation that stipulates that every child in Ghana should go to school up to Senior High School level, at least. We don’t want dropouts. This way, everyone can find meaningful employment in this country,” the President said.

Though Ghana’s constitution guarantees free compulsory basic education, that is yet to be implemented but the government has since September 2017 introduced free senior high school education in public schools across the country.

Addressing a durbar of chiefs held in his honour at Beposo on Saturday during his tour of the Ashanti Region, the President said the critics said the free SHS education he promised was not attainable.

“Those who said we could not do it have been put to shame,” he said, adding “the work that we promised to do, the promises I made during the campaign period, I believe that all Ghanaians can attest to the fact that they were not idle promises, but rather promises that I honestly believed that I could fulfill, once I won power”.
He continued, “We have reduced electricity tariffs as well, so as to bring relief to individual households, as well as to businesses. By so doing, business owners, especially entrepreneurs, will be energised to bring in more income. We came to visit you and to inform you that the promises we made to you here in Beposo, during the campaign period, are being fulfilled.

President Akufo-Addo thanked the Chief of Beposo, Nana Boamah Kwabi IV, for the large tracts of land, i.e. 24,000 acres, given to his administration to facilitate the realization of Government’s flagship projects such as the Programme for Planting for Food and Jobs, and 1-District-1-Factory.

“These are very valuable additions. I am truly thankful. In the same vein, the Kwamanhene has also offered us 5,000 acres for Planting for Food and Jobs. The Nsutamanhene has also given us 3,000 acres for warehouses. Out of the 21 constituencies here in Asanteman that will have warehouses, the Nsuta constituency will receive one,” he added.

Touching the concerns of the Beposohene on the extension of electricity to all communities in Beposo, President Akufo-Addo assured that Government is working towards ensuring that “every town and village in this country will have access to electricity, so that nobody will be left behind.“It is systematic. We are pushing for complete rural electrification and very soon, you will hear from us here in Beposo.”

Earlier in the day, President Akufo-Addo visited the Rocklands Farms in Beposo, Wontumi Farms in Asare Nkwanta, and visited Assam, in Mampong, to inspect ongoing works on the Kofiase-Mampong road, which is being constructed for the first time in the country’s history.