Ghana’s flagship Free Senior High School (SHS) programme is receiving a major financial lifeline, with the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) disbursing GHS2.71 billion between January and April 2025 alone.
The funding surge follows a strategic policy shift by the government, which—in line with the 2025 Budget—has designated GETFund as the sole financing source for the Free SHS initiative. This marks a turning point in the administration of the programme, which has faced persistent logistical and operational challenges in recent years.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson says the move is already yielding results. “With funding now streamlined under GETFund, we are seeing improved consistency in the implementation of Free SHS,” he told Parliament. “The difficulties that once affected the smooth running of the programme, particularly issues of feeding, have now been resolved.”
This shift, according to Dr. Forson, is designed to ensure sustainability and equity in secondary education nationwide. The Free SHS programme, introduced to eliminate financial barriers to education at the senior high level, has faced criticism over resource constraints, including delays in food supply and shortages of teaching and learning materials.
By placing the programme’s funding under the umbrella of GETFund, the government hopes to create a more stable financial structure that ensures timely delivery of resources.
“This is a decisive step toward protecting one of Ghana’s most transformative social interventions,” Dr. Forson added, emphasizing the government’s commitment to education access and quality.
