Prospectus charges defeat purpose of Free SHS – Adutwum’s spokesperson
Spokesperson for former Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has criticised the reported sale of Senior High School (SHS) prospectus items through Prospectus Ghana Limited, describing the arrangement as a potential burden on parents.
Former Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum's spokesperson has vehemently criticized the sale of Senior High School (SHS) prospectus items through Prospectus Ghana Limited. Spokesman Yaw Opoku Mensah argues that the arrangement, which forces parents to buy prospectus items in packages costing approximately GH¢1,700, contravenes the spirit of the Free SHS policy.
He urges against the monetization of Free SHS, stating, "Stop turning Free SHS into a cash cow." This criticism arises from controversy surrounding the EduPack programme, run by Prospectus Ghana Limited, with the National Council of Parents-Teachers Associations (NCPTA) urging parents to refrain from paying the reported GH¢1,617 for the package of prospectus items.
The NCPTA further alleges that Prospectus Ghana Limited lacks authorization from the Ghana Education Service (GES) to sell these items or collect payments from schools. Opoku Mensah points out that the company has reportedly demonstrated authority to enter schools, citing circulating videos showing their delivery at PRESEC. He contends that compelling parents to purchase from a single company, simply because their children attend public SHS, defeats the purpose of the programme.
According to him, this arrangement imposes additional financial strain on parents who are already beneficiaries of a policy aimed at reducing the cost of secondary education. He emphasizes, "Free SHS must not become 'free education, but pay here for your prospectus'." The GES released the National Harmonised Prospectus for the 2026/2027 academic year on September 3, outlining necessary items for both boarding and day students.
The NCPTA insists that parents can still purchase prospectus items from the open market and calls on the GES to intervene against schools that coerce parents into buying from a specific vendor. Meanwhile, Prospectus Ghana Limited's CEO, Jude Fosu Gyamfi, defends the company's SHS prospectus supply programme, describing it as legal and voluntary.
He claims it aims to simplify the admission process for parents, while Opoku Mensah urges authorities to scrutinize any arrangement that places extra financial burdens on parents, warning that such actions could lead to more exploitations.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
