Prominent Ghanaian pastor, Prophet Owusu Bempah, has called on President Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to stop “bragging” about the Free SHS policy, suggesting that the government’s frequent references to it as a major achievement may be overstated.
Speaking to his congregation at the Glorious Word Power Ministry International, Prophet Owusu Bempah questioned the notion of “free” in the Free SHS program, pointing out that public funds—not personal contributions from the president or vice president—finance the policy. “They are touting Free education,” he remarked, adding, “Is it the president’s money he used for free education? Is it not our own money and the taxes we paid that he used for Free education?”
Owusu Bempah urged the government to acknowledge that taxpayer contributions make policies like Free SHS possible. He argued that while the program has been beneficial to many Ghanaian families, officials should not take personal pride in its success as it relies on the nation’s collective resources. “If our money is with the government and the government uses it to provide education, is it free?” he asked, adding, “They talk as if they implemented free education with their own money, but the truth is that it is our own money, so they have done nothing special.”
The pastor’s comments have added to ongoing discussions in Ghana regarding the sustainability and accountability of the Free SHS policy. His remarks may prompt further public debate about government initiatives funded by taxpayer contributions and the ways in which officials frame their achievements.
