The report, submitted in June 2025, identifies issues such as examination malpractice, delays in disbursing funds, overcrowded classrooms, and an overly centralised Ghana Education Service (GES) structure. It also raises questions about whether the Free SHS programme can be sustained in its current form.

The chairman of the committee, Professor George K.T. Oduro, said the recommendations followed four months of consultations involving more than 5,000 stakeholders across all 16 regions. These included students, parents, teachers, education officers, traditional leaders, and civil society groups.

“We didn’t sit in Accra and write a report,” Prof Oduro said in an interview with Radio Gold on Monday, June 9, 2025. “We travelled, we listened, and we shaped our proposals around the reality on the ground.”

One of the main concerns outlined in the report is the scale of examination malpractice. In 2023 alone, more than 587,000 subject papers were reported to have been compromised. Of these, 10,000 were cancelled due to confirmed cheating, which included the use of artificial intelligence tools to generate answers and students submitting identical essays.

Dr Samuel Awuku, an education consultant and committee member, described the trend as disturbing. “We are proposing biometric verification for invigilators and stricter penalties for offenders,” he said. “If we don’t act, the credibility of our certificates will continue to decline.”

Regarding the Free SHS policy, Prof Oduro said access had improved significantly, with enrolment rising by almost 60 per cent since 2015. However, he noted that the increase had placed pressure on schools. “Infrastructure, textbooks, and teaching staff have not kept pace with the growth in numbers,” he said.

To ease the burden, the committee recommends a voucher system for boarding students. Under this plan, parents who can afford to contribute would pay part of the boarding fees, while students from low-income households would continue to receive full state support. The report also recommends that the government consider means-testing in the future to better target subsidies.

The committee also proposes changes to how the GES operates. The current structure, it argues, is too centralised, with decisions often delayed because they must be approved in Accra. The report cites examples of school heads and regional directors who have limited control over routine matters. It also notes that some teachers have paid up to GH¢20,000 in bribes to secure postings or transfers.

According to Dr Awuku, this system must change. “We need to give more authority to district and regional offices so they can handle recruitment and day-to-day school management,” he said.

The committee also considered whether SHS admissions should include academic cut-off points. A survey conducted during the consultations showed that 46 per cent of students favoured minimum entry requirements, while 54 per cent preferred open access. In response, the committee recommends developing more options, including stronger technical and vocational pathways, to offer varied routes to students without limiting access.

He said the Free SHS programme has so far cost the state more than GH¢25 billion. Yet, according to the report, infrastructure challenges remain. Some schools continue to operate in makeshift structures or under trees. The committee warns that without changes, the system may produce graduates who are not ready for employment or further education.

Prof Oduro said the committee had completed its work and handed over its findings. “It is now up to the government to take action,” he said. “We’ve done the consultations and made the recommendations. What’s needed is leadership and urgency.”