By Ruth Serwaa Asare
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo Markin has criticised the government’s handling of the Free SHS placement system, describing it as “burdensome” to parents.
Speaking at a leaders press briefing in Parliament on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, the Effutu MP said the Senior High School placement system has crashed, with several parents complaining bitterly about placement challenges for their wards.
He said, “Parents are complaining because they have to buy everything. So, it really negates the import of the Free SHS. And even how students were placed if somebody is in Winneba and has been placed in Koforidua or Bawku, from Winneba to Bawku, what is the gain? There is no value in Free SHS. The Free SHS placement system that has crashed must be looked at because it was not the case in the past. The placement now is so burdensome that parents complain to the media.”
On job creation, the minority leader stressed that the government has done nothing substantial to provide employment opportunities for the youth.
He also criticised President John Mahama’s administration for cancelling the One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative introduced by the previous government, which he described as a “major boost” to the private sector.
“We have not seen any serious job creation effort. For the private sector, for instance, they came to cancel the 1D1F, but the 1D1F was a major boost for the private sector. We believe in the private sector, the private market, and creating opportunities for more”; He said.
