Popular Ghanaian TikToker Calls For Cancellation Of Free Secondary Education Policy: ‘Invest The Money In Agriculture’

• Eric Duodu Ankrah aka Father Ankrah, a popular Ghanaian TikToker, has called on the government to rescind the free SHS policy
• Speaking to Sanko TV in an interview monitored by YEN.com.gh, Father Ankrah said the policy has not been beneficial to the country.
• He advised the government to channel the resources used for the free SHS to the Minister of Agriculture to invest in agriculture.

A Ghanaian TikTokker, Eric Duodu Ankrah, better known as Father Ankrah, has advocated for the cancellation of the Free Senior High School (FSHS) education policy.

The FSHS policy, undoubtedly the flagship programme of the ruling government, was launched in September 2017 in fulfilment of a promise made during the 2021 election campaign6.

This policy was introduced to remove the financial barriers that parents faced while sending their children to high schools and also to create opportunities for bright but needy students to continue their education at the secondary level.

However, according to Father Ankrah, the FSHS policy has not brought significant benefits to the country.

He argued that many students who complete secondary education and fail to access higher education are left to fend for themselves without any support to enable them improve their lives.

Therefore, the Ghanaian TikToker urged the government to channel resources allocated to the FSHS policy to the Minister of Agriculture to help farmers produce more food for the country.

“I would like to request the government to abolish free education. Free education is of no use to the society. Free education would not help us. When they complete their studies, they go home to do momo and wander aimlessly,” he said.

“The president would rather channel the money for free education to the Minister of Agriculture to distribute to farmers so that they produce more corn and beans so that there is enough food in the country,” he added.

Father ANkrah made the remarks when Sankofa TV asked him what he would say if he had a minute opportunity to speak to the President of Ghana.

Internet users divided over Father Ankrah’s claims

Father Ankrah’s claims sparked mixed opinions among netizens who stumbled upon the video posted on TikTok by @sankofatv_gh.

@DHONASYN ERIC said:

“Hmmm, someone is going to insult him because of this truth he is saying.”

@king Cosby also said:

“So he tells us that back when we were paying school fees, if we finished school, we would have work to do properly.”

@TM-Habib said

“You’re not getting the message, it’s the government that funds free school, so they should let them pay the fees and use that money to fund farmers.”

@KïÑĝ_CéFfà commented.

“Developing countries, Korea, do not give free education like that, it is we, developing countries, who always borrow.”

SHS student requests FRSHS review

Meanwhile, in the previous YEN.com.gh publications, a student of Nsein Senior High School, Tricia, has called for a review of the FSHS policy to allow parents to bear half of their wards’ school fees.

According to Tricia, with secondary education now free, some of her peers are not taking their studies seriously.

Source: YEN.com.gh