Adutwum spokesperson alleges ‘turf war’ between Education Ministry and GES over Free SHS

Former Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum's spokesperson, Yaw Opoku Mensah, has accused both the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) of engaging in a "turf war" that is disrupting the implementation of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme. The disagreement, according to Mr Opoku Mensah, is centered around the admission numbers of approximately 60,000 students, leading to delays in the release of funds to schools.

This has created financial difficulties for school authorities, forcing some institutions to operate on credit. Mr Opoku Mensah stated that the government has not yet released funds to support current Form Two students, resulting in some schools being unable to provide items such as uniforms and housedresses that were previously supplied for free.

The spokesperson alleged that some school heads have been threatened with dismissal for speaking out about the situation, warning that the impasse could lead to school closures if not resolved promptly. Mr Opoku Mensah described the reports of schools selling previously free items as a "silent protest" over the alleged funding challenges.