Chairman of Parliament’s Finance Committee and Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo, has clarified that government’s proposed $300 million World Bank loan facility is targeted at expanding senior high school infrastructure nationwide to improve access and grant equality and not to fund Free Senior High School.

This rebuffs claims made by the Minority on th floor of Parliament during a debate on Tuesday, July 22.

MP for Ofoase-Ayirebi, Ranking Member on the Economy and Development Committee, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah questioned government’s priorities, stating that “Resources are not being directed to essential obligations. This facility is being disguised as infrastructure support but in reality is meant to sustain Free SHS.”

Also, MP for Tano North, Deputy Ranking Member on the Finance Committee, Dr Gideon Boako added that, “This proposed borrowing reflects weak revenue mobilisation. Government is returning to borrowing for critical investments less than a year after exiting the IMF programme.”

He cited first-quarter 2026 figures for VAT, NHIS levy, and crude-oil receipts to argue that the loan was evidence of fiscal weakness.

In response to these claims, the MP Adongo indicated that the loan has been designed to address longstanding challenges within Ghana’s secondary education sector, including eliminating the double-track system, upgrading existing schools, improving the quality of education and expanding access for more students.

“Mr Speaker, it is important to indicate that there is no loan agreement before this House to finance Free SHS. Mr Speaker, what we are considering is a loan agreement that is meant to improve access to free secondary education, to ensure that we eliminate the double-track, provide more opportunities for Grade C schools to be upgraded to Grade B and for Grade B to be upgraded to Grade A.”

Defending the proposed financing arrangement, Mr. Adongo laid out a detailed allocation plan for Parliament, highlighting how the funds would be utilised across different aspects of the project.

“An amount of $257.7 million has been allocated to component one, which focuses on increasing equitable access to secondary education. Component two, which is improving the quality and relevance of secondary education, has been allocated $33.8 million.

“Mr Speaker, Component 3 strengthens systems, communication and evidence-based decision-making, and Mr Speaker, $8.5 million has been allocated for this purpose. Mr Speaker, the Government of Ghana will be providing $23 million counterpart funding to fully implement this project.”

About Free SHS

The Free Senior High School policy was introduced in 2017 by the Akufo-Addo-led government to make secondary education accessible to all eligible students without financial barriers.

The policy was aimed at helping students who struggled to pay tuition, boarding, and other school-related expenses. However, the policy came with its challenges, such as overcrowding and congestion in schools, pressure on infrastructure and facilities, and increased pressure on teachers.

This increased the number of enrollments in the senior high schools that were listed under the Free SHS policy. About 3.5 million students have benefited from the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) program since its launch.

The immediate-past government revealed that it had spent over GH¢12 billion on the implementation of the Free SHS policy since its inception. Meanwhile, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has urged a reassessment of Ghana’s Free SHS initiative, recommending that households with sufficient means contribute financially so that government support can be directed toward students in real need.

During a meeting with Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, the Asantehene suggested a shared funding model, akin to previous arrangements where financial aid was granted to bright but disadvantaged students, while those with the ability to pay covered their own expenses.

“Those who can afford to pay, let’s have a second look at the policy. If someone can afford it, let’s allow them to pay. In the old times, when you passed, the bursary would look for good but needy students and award them scholarships, and those who could afford to pay did so.”

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has recognised the positive impact of the Free SHS policy but stressed the importance of a national discussion to tackle its shortcomings and secure its future.

“This Free SHS we are talking about, although we have implemented it, if we have a dialogue and find out that it will result in students coming home now and then because there is no food, then it is not fit for purpose.”

He also pointed out several pressing concerns affecting secondary schools, including overcrowded dormitories, a lack of well-equipped science and ICT laboratories, irregular food supplies, and insufficient school buses.

“Our dormitories are overcrowded and lack science and ICT labs. Sometimes, PTA makes contributions to support. The lack of school buses and the shortage of food should all be looked at. Let us implement it well so that students will stay in school and have enough to eat.”