The Minority caucus in Parliament has revealed that the government has failed to reimburse an outstanding debt of 6 billion Ghana cedis to companies, individuals and organisations. The monies were borrowed to sustain the Free Senior High School policy.
The caucus in an engagement with reporters indicated that government borrowed over GHC300 million as funds used in the procurement of the GHC1.3 million tablets for the ‘One Student One laptop initiative’
Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament, Peter Nortsu Kotoe, commended the policy but noted that funds being procured to sustain the policy keep piling up as debt. “Free SHS is a very laudable programme, it has provided access to secondary education for quite a large number of people who wouldn’t have had the opportunity, looking at the cost involved at that time.
“However, the programme is facing a lot of challenges and one of them has to do with Finance. As we speak now, the financial challenges are becoming too much and it’s going through the roof. I can say that the information available to me indicates that over GHC6 billion is being owed to companies, individuals and organisations in relation to Free SHS.” He said.