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Claim: An X user, @Diabolic_Mik, says the Ghanaian government has cancelled the free senior high school (SHS) policy after directing school heads to procure uniforms and other dresses for first-year students.
Verdict: Misleading. DUBAWA’s research shows that the directive addressed to Regional Directors of Education does not cancel the free SHS policy, as the X user alleged. There is no indication in the letter that the policy has been cancelled. The Ghana Education Service (GES) letter only requested that school heads engage suppliers to provide school clothes, uniforms, and house dresses for first-year students for the 2024/2025 academic year.
Full Text
An X user, @Diabolic_Mik, claims that the Ghanaian government has cancelled the free senior high school (SHS) policy after directing school heads to procure uniforms and other attire for first-year students.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) in a letter dated June 24, 2025, and addressed to Regional Education Directors directed school heads to engage suppliers to provide school clothes, uniforms, and house dresses for first-year students for the 2024/2025 academic year.
“Heads of schools are to ensure that the quantities procured for each of the above-mentioned items are informed by their validated enrolment for first-year students,” the letter signed by Prince Agyemang-Duah read.
However, commenting on the letter in a post on X, @Diabolic_Mik claimed that the government has cancelled President Nana Akufo-Addo’s 2017 free SHS policy.
“BREAKING: Govt cancels Free SHS, parents to begin paying for uniforms and other school items,” he said.
Commenting on the post, an X user, @pastor_mensah, wrote, “Where in this release is the government cancelling Free SHS? Buying two sets of School Uniforms, a house dress, and School Clothes means Cancellation? You went to Cherubim and Seraphim JSS?
Another X user, @joromi__, said, “Wow, are you aware this is not for parents but for suppliers?”
The social media platform data showed that as of June 29, 2025, the post has over 134,432 views, 294 comments, 104 reposts, 675 likes, and 77 bookmarks.
DUBAWA decided to probe the claim as part of its campaign against misinformation and disinformation in Ghana.
Verification
DUBAWA’s investigation showed that the directive addressed to Regional Directors of Education does not cancel the free SHS policy, as the X user alleged.
A content analysis conducted by DUBAWA revealed that the letter does not indicate the cancellation of the policy.
Instead, the Ghana Education Service (GES) letter only requested that school heads engage suppliers to provide school clothes, school uniforms, and house dresses for first-year students for the 2024/2025 academic year.
A screenshot of the GES letter to Regional Education Directors
President John Mahama has stated that he will not cancel the policy but will instead work to improve it.
Cancelling the free SHS policy is likely to receive media attention and generate heated debate in the country.
However, DUBAWA’s Google keyword search results disclosed that no reputable media organisation has reported on the purported cancellation of the free SHS.
Conclusion
The GES letter to the Regional Education Directors does not announce the cancellation of the free SHS policy as the X user alleged.
