Ohemaa Benz, a spokesperson for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), recently stirred controversy with her comments on the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy. She argued that families have always been responsible for providing education to their children, suggesting that the concept of free education is not a new development.
Benz further stated that she would not be bothered if former President John Mahama decided to abolish the Free SHS policy, emphasizing that it was not a major concern for him. She clarified that Mahama’s focus would be on addressing the challenges within the Free SHS system rather than scrapping the initiative entirely. According to Benz, “Don’t force him. He’s trying to maintain what Akufo-Addo started, and the issues in Free SHS are what he intends to tackle, but it’s not something he’s going to prioritize.”
Her remarks, however, have sparked a backlash, with many arguing that education should be a top priority and not dismissed so easily. Critics have expressed concerns over the implications of Benz’s statement, urging that the education of the youth should be treated with the utmost importance.