Napo displaying his award
Dr. MATTHEW Opoku Prempeh’s extraordinary works in the smooth implementation of the famous Free Senior High School (SHS) policy in 2017, when he was the Minister of Education, has shot him to international fame.
Affectionately called ‘Napo’ in political circles, he is a proud recipient of the prestigious ‘Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program’s Medal of Achievement’ award, which was presented to him in the United States (US), few days ago.
He was recognised and duly awarded by Harvard University in 2020 for his key roles in the Free SHS implementation, but due to travelling restrictions at the time, which was occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, the award was presented to him virtually.
Napo, an alumnus of the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program, a non-prescriptive program designed to support appointed ministers serving their countries, was invited by Harvard University to share his experience.
The world acclaimed academic institution took advantage of Napo’s presence in the US and officially presented the prestigious award to him during a short and colourful programme, to the admiration of the ex-Education Minister.
“This year, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, a distinguished alumnus of the Program (2017), and former Minister for Education in Ghana (2017-2021), returned to the Forum to share his experience as Minister with current participants.
“As Minister for Education, he led reforms in secondary education, successfully fulfilling his mandate and leaving a legacy,” a statement from the renowned academic institution stated.
“Recognized for his achievements, Dr. Prempeh was awarded the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program’s Medal of Achievement in 2020. However, due to the pandemic, the award was presented virtually. This year, during the Forum, he finally received the honor in person,” it added.
It further said “when appointed, Dr. Prempeh was tasked by his President to deliver Free Senior High School (Free SHS) in his country, a new policy program that would provide free education, paying for a total of 41 items, including tuition, meals, textbooks, and boarding for Ghanaian children qualified for secondary education.
“Appointed in February 2017, he attended the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program in June of the same year. By September 2017, just seven months after his appointment, Dr. Prempeh launched Free SHS nationwide and, consequently, increased SHS attendance in Ghana.”
Napo Shares Free SHS Success Secret
Addressing his audience, Napo, who was beaming with smiles over the honour, said the training and education that he received from the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program helped him greatly to implement the Free SHS policy in 2017.
“Harvard opened my eyes to delivery units, stakeholder mapping, and rapid implementation. It showed me how to track every detail, so nothing slipped through. That’s how we launched Free SHS in just seven months.
“My participation in the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program gave me top-notch knowledge and skills in leadership, governance, and management.
“I got the opportunity to hear and learn firsthand the success stories and the pitfalls to avoid from a wide range of current and former ministers from across the globe,” he disclosed.
The programme, Napo said, “also provided a network and a pool of experts to contact in times of need. Overall, the programme gave me the needed confidence to execute my mandate as Minister of Education successfully.”
According to him, in the first year of Free SHS, “dropout rates in the South fell to match the North. Over 100,000 students each year, who would have been on the streets, were now in school.”
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah, Kumasi