Mahama’s social intervention policies have answered critics – Haruna Iddrisu

Minister of Education Haruna Iddrisu has stated that the social intervention policies under President John Dramani Mahama have sufficiently responded to critics who questioned the National Democratic Congress (NDC) social policies during last year’s election season.

Speaking at the GTEC office in Accra on Wednesday during the media briefing of the 2026 education budget, Iddrisu highlighted three key interventions.

“Mahama Care is a social intervention policy. No Fee Stress is a social intervention policy. Free education for persons with disabilities is a social intervention policy. Our critics have been answered adequately,” he said.

The minister also pointed to the No Academic Fees Policy for all first-year students, which has received an allocation of 537.4 million cedis, representing 7.6 percent of the 2025 allocation.

“Many students are grateful for this intervention, which lifts a burden off parents and their wards,” Iddrisu noted.

In addition, the remit of the Student Loan Trust has been expanded to benefit more students, including those at the Ghana School of Law who previously did not qualify.

“No child should be left behind because a person is financially disadvantaged,” the minister emphasized.

In total, 4.2 billion cedis have been dedicated to sustaining and improving free senior high school and free TVET programs. Iddrisu said this investment ensures that every Ghanaian child, regardless of background, has access to secondary education.

“We will do everything possible to maintain access and quality for all students,” he pledged.

The minister’s remarks came as part of a broader presentation of the 2026 budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Education, which includes 39.2 billion cedis to implement programs across basic, secondary, and tertiary education.