A statement by the Eastern Regional Coordinator of the Free Senior High School (FSHS) Secretariat, Charles Nyame, has sparked controversy after he appeared to link assistance with SHS placement to membership of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Speaking at the Comrades Care Fund event in Asamankese in the Lower West Akim Municipality, Nyame said the government was prepared to support parents facing difficulties with the placement of their children in senior high schools.
However, he suggested that such assistance would be available to NDC members and executives who had supported and worked for the party over the years.
“Our mothers and fathers who have been with the NDC for a longer period of time, we will make sure you benefit from the party. Even if you do not benefit, your children and grandchildren will benefit,” he said.
Nyame, who serves as the Eastern Regional FSHS Coordinator, went further to indicate that he could personally assist NDC members struggling to secure placement for their children.
“As I talk to you, I am the Free SHS Coordinator for the Eastern Region, so if your child needs admission into a school and you’re an NDC member or executive, we will do it for you to get a school,” he said.
The remarks have attracted attention because they come at a time when the ongoing SHS placement exercise is facing complaints from parents and students across the country.
Reports indicate that more than 55,000 students are yet to secure placement, leaving some parents visiting resolution centres in search of help.
Several parents have complained about difficulties with the placement process, including changes to school assignments after they had already printed their initial placement results.
Others say their children are yet to receive placements, adding to concerns over the effectiveness of the exercise.
Nyame’s comments have therefore raised questions about whether political affiliation could influence access to assistance during the placement process.
His remarks also come amid broader discussions about the fairness and transparency of the SHS placement system, particularly as affected families continue to seek solutions for their children.
