The government has budgeted GH¢3.5 billion for the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme for the 2025 fiscal year.
Presenting the 2025 Budget and Economic Policy on Tuesday, March 11, the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, said the government will uncap the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and amend the GETFund Act to provide for full funding of the Free Senior High School.
He explained that by uncapping the GETFund, the government will make an additional GH¢4.1 billion available for the financing of the Free SHS programme.
“Mr. Speaker, this year, the budget for the free secondary education programme is GH¢3.5 billion,” he said.
Still, on education, he said they have allocated an amount of GH¢564.6 million for the comprehensive provision of free curricula-based textbooks to over four million learners in the kindergarten and basic level.
Meanwhile, the government is expected to spend a total of GH¢269.1 billion, while the total Revenue and Grants for 2025 is
projected at GH¢223.8 billion.
“Mr. Speaker, Total Revenue and Grants for 2025 is projected at GH¢223.8 billion or 17.2% of GDP up from GH¢186.5 billion or 17.4% of GDP. The projection is underpinned by non-oil revenue measures which are expected to yield at least 0.5 percent of GDP.
“Total Expenditures (Commitment) for 2025 has been programmed at GH¢269.1 billion (20.7% of GDP) down from GH¢279.2 billion (26.0% of GDP) in 2024,” he stated.