NAPO’s office rejects ‘revisionist’ attempts to credit Adutwum for Akufo-Addo-era education reforms

The Office of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has dismissed what it calls deliberate attempts to credit Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum with landmark reforms executed during President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s first term.

The statement argues that recent publications seeking to assign key policy achievements to Dr. Adutwum are “factually inaccurate” and misrepresent the foundation of Ghana’s education transformation between 2017 and 2021.

Nana Agyemang Duah, P.A. to Dr. Prempeh in statement to the media, described the claims as “a blatant distortion of history that cannot go unchallenged.”

According to the office, Dr. Prempeh, who served as Minister for Education from 2017 to 2021, led the execution of President Akufo-Addo’s vision.

“Dr. Prempeh has always maintained that the sector’s accomplishments were the realisation of the President’s bold educational agenda,” the statement said. “It is therefore misleading for anyone to attempt to reassign these achievements.”

The rejoinder specifically disputes assertions that Dr. Adutwum initiated the Education Strategic Plan (ESP) 2018–2030, stating that the ESP was developed before 2018 and implemented during Dr. Prempeh’s tenure.

It notes, “To label it as ‘his ESP’ is an unambiguous attempt at historical misappropriation.”

On Free SHS, the office stresses that policy design, costing, modelling, financing arrangements and data reforms were completed under Dr. Prempeh’s leadership.

“The rollout in September 2017 and the first cohort’s WASSCE in 2020 all happened before Dr. Adutwum became substantive minister,” it added.

NAPO’s office also challenged claims about improvements in Integrated Science performance. “WAEC data shows the rise to 62.94% occurred in 2019, firmly within Dr. Prempeh’s term,” it stated.

Additionally, the rejoinder highlights that curriculum reforms, teacher training restructuring, strengthened oversight bodies, and the double-track system were all executed before 2021.

“Facts must remain facts,” it stressed. “The attempt to credit Dr. Adutwum with reforms he neither conceptualised nor led does a disservice to officials who delivered them.”

The 2024 Vice Presidential Candidate’s Office urged those promoting Dr. Adutwum’s political ambitions to “refrain from revisionist narratives” and instead highlight verifiable achievements.

“A true unifier builds on facts, not distortions,” the statement said.