The Deputy Finance Minister, Dr. John Kumah, has debunked speculations about the government's Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy burdening public purse.

He clarified that the expenditure on Free SHS is not a significant factor compared to the country's overall budget and highlighted that the real concern is the nation's debt.

In a recent interview before the 2023 mid-year budget review, Dr. Kumah emphasized that the allocation for Free SHS in the 2023 budget was GH¢2.9 billion, while the entire appropriation for the year amounted to GH¢228 billion.

“It’s not true that Free SHS is a huge elephant in the room. The allocation for Free SHS in the 2023 budget was GH¢2.9 billion, and the entire appropriation for the year was GH¢228 billion. You cannot tell me that if you are spending GH¢2.9 billion out of GH¢228 billion, that is the elephant in the room. And this is covering over 1.3 million Ghanaian children. The elephant in the room is our debt, the interest payments we made.

“The impact and benefits of Free SHS go to the core of the vulnerable and, of course, the future of the human resource of our country. And for me, that is non-negotiable,” he stated.

He argued that spending GH¢2.9 billion out of GH¢228 billion could not be considered the "elephant in the room." Moreover, he stressed that the Free SHS program was instrumental in benefiting over 1.3 million Ghanaian children and was crucial for the vulnerable sections of society.

Addressing the importance of Free SHS, Dr. Kumah underlined its significance for the future human resource of the country and asserted that it was a non-negotiable priority. He also reassured the public of the government's dedication to achieving growth despite fiscal constraints, with the aim of easing the burden on ordinary citizens.

The Finance Minister also defended the Free SHS initiative, emphasizing the moral obligation to provide access to education for every Ghanaian child.

However, one of the key challenges faced by some schools is related to feeding, with limited funding and supply constraints affecting their ability to provide adequate meals for students. This has raised concerns that certain schools might have to consider shutting down if these issues persist.