Omane Acheampong
Gospel musician, Nicholas Omane Acheampong, has expressed strong doubts about former President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to preserving the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy.
Speaking on Joy FM, he said he is convinced that Mahama would cancel the policy if he returns to power, despite the former president’s assurances to maintain it.
Nicholas’ skepticism stems from Mahama’s past comments when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) first proposed the Free SHS policy while in opposition. The musician recalled Mahama’s earlier stance and questioned the sincerity of his current position.
“If I sit aloof as a celebrity thinking about my brand and John Dramani Mahama is brought back as President, we will see that he has canceled the Free SHS policy,” Mr. Acheampong stated.
He added that while Mahama has publicly stated he will not cancel the policy, the former president’s previous remarks about the initiative suggest otherwise.
“Yes, he has said that he will not cancel it, but since the NPP proposed the policy, you know what he has been saying about it since 2008,” he emphasised.
The gospel musician acknowledged that his views might attract criticism, particularly from members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), but he insisted that he is unfazed by potential backlash. He has developed a thick skin against insults and remains firm in his belief.
Meanwhile, John Dramani Mahama has repeatedly assured the public that he has no intention of abolishing Free SHS.
In 2020, he reaffirmed this stance, saying, “Free Senior High School education has come to stay. If anybody tells you that ‘I, John Dramani Mahama, son of E.A. Mahama, will abolish Free SHS when I come,’ tell the person he is a bloody liar.”
Mahama clarified that his criticism is directed at the implementation of the policy, not the policy itself.
He argued that the current administration’s approach has caused significant inconvenience for parents, students, and teachers, and suggested that his government would have handled it more effectively by completing the 200 new SHSs that were under construction during his tenure.