Nana Addo's free SHS will collapse without my support – Akua Donkor

Founder and leader of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), Akua Donkor is predicting the collapse of the free Senior High School (SHS) policy rolled out by the Akufo-Addo led government.

According to her, the programme without her support will collapse.

She said there is not enough funds to sustain the programme even for a year.

Speaking in an interview on Accra-based Neat FM, she said the Nana Addo and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) stole her idea when she was prevented from contesting the 2016 general elections.

She said "Nana Addo and his cohorts stole the free SHS policy from me in the 2016 elections and now he is implementing it. I can state authoritatively that this policy will not see the day of light. It will not work because it was stolen from me."

At a ceremony at the West Africa Senior High School to launch the policy, the president described the programme as the means to creating a society of opportunities and empowerment for every citizen.

He said he made the Free SHS pledge "because I know that knowledge and talent are not for the rich and privileged alone, and that free education widens the gates of opportunities to every child, especially those whose talents are arrested because of poverty."

Questions have been raised about the source and sustainability of funding for the ambitious programme which will see government absorbing school fees for all secondary school students eligible for the programme.

But Nana Addo has stated that proceeds from the oil revenue will be used to fund the policy.

He said funds from the oil production would not go into few individual pockets, but it will be used to finance the educational policy to improve the quality of Ghana’s human resource.

Akua Donkor speaking on the flagship policy said the free SHS policy will collapse.

"Nana Addo should make Kindergarten and primary free first and then focus on SHS because I will make sure I make education free for all pupils because I am sure of becoming President in 2020," she added.