Education Ministry Disputes Allegations of GH₵6bn Debt Over Free SHS
- The Ministry of Education categorically denies the allegations by the Minority in Parliament
- The Ministry refutes specific claims of indebtedness highlighted by the Minority
- Payments to suppliers are made according to agreed-upon contracts and performance milestones
The Ministry of Education has rebutted claims made by the Minority in Parliament that the government owes more than six billion Ghana Cedis to various entities involved in the implementation of the Free Senior High School policy.
According to the Ministry, these claims are baseless and inaccurate.
The Minority caucus had asserted that the government had outstanding debts, including over GH₵300 million for the procurement of 1.3 million tablets under the “One Student, One Laptop” initiative, and GH₵224 million owed to the West African Examinations Council.
In response, spokesperson Kwasi Kwarteng from the Education Ministry clarified that their records do not support such claims of massive indebtedness. He emphasized that payments to vendors and organizations are made based on contractual agreements and performance milestones.
Kwarteng stated, “The allegation of owing over 6 billion Ghana Cedis, as asserted by the Minority, is not grounded in fact. We would appreciate more transparency from those making these claims regarding their sources and details.”
The Ministry aims to address these allegations with factual evidence, asserting that financial obligations are managed in accordance with contractual terms and government procedures.