Ghanaian singer Mzbel has sparked controversy with her recent comments about Ghana’s Free Senior High School (SHS) program during a Neat FM interview. The “Sweet 16” hitmaker’s criticism of the educational initiative has drawn sharp reactions from social media users.
The musician expressed concerns about the program’s effectiveness, pointing out that students spend considerable time at home instead of in school. She argued that parents still incur costs through private tutoring, questioning whether the program is truly “free” as advertised.
“Parents must pay for extra classes during extended home stays, making the Free SHS not actually free,” Mzbel stated, adding that she believes John Mahama’s administration would improve the program if elected.
Her comments triggered immediate pushback from defenders of the initiative, who labeled her criticism as ungrateful. Supporters highlighted that since its 2017 launch, the program has benefited over 1.4 million students and significantly improved access to secondary education for low-income families.
While the Free SHS program has faced challenges regarding funding and infrastructure, it remains one of the current administration’s flagship policies aimed at increasing educational access across Ghana.
