The decision to uncap the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to finance the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy has drawn strong criticism from Abena Osei Asare, former Deputy Finance Minister and Member of Parliament for Atiwa East.
The GETFund, originally intended for educational infrastructure, is now being redirected to cover recurring expenses like food and other consumables, which Osei Asare argues goes against the fund’s intended purpose.
She explained that GETFund should not be used for operational costs related to Free SHS, as it was designed to support long-term infrastructure investments, not recurrent expenses.
Additionally, she expressed concern over the redirection of oil revenue, once allocated to support Free SHS, into the “Big Push” initiative.
The initiative, however, lacks clear details on how the funds will be used, raising questions about transparency and accountability.
Osei Asare’s comments underscore the growing concerns over the sustainability of education financing under the current administration. She warned that diverting funds from infrastructure projects could have serious long-term implications on the quality of education in Ghana.
