Former Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Education, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has responded to what he describes as a revisionist account of Ghana’s educational reforms put forward by the spokesperson of Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum.
In his response, Assafuah, who served at the Ministry between 2017 and 2020 and was directly involved in shaping and communicating the Ministry’s most significant reforms, lays out a detailed clarification of how policies such as Free SHS, the Double Track system, STEM integration, and TVET retooling were conceived and executed.
He argues that while Dr. Adutwum later made notable contributions as Minister between 2021 and 2024, the landmark reforms being claimed today were in fact designed and implemented under the leadership of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO) and endorsed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Below is Vincent Ekow Assafuah’s full statement:
Setting the Records Straight on the Tenure of Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum at the Ministry of Education
My attention has been drawn to a recent statement authored by Mr. Yaw Opoku Mensah, spokesperson for Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, which sought to present a revisionist account of Ghana’s educational reforms and their origins. As the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Education between 2017 and 2020, and a direct participant in the processes that birthed and executed the Ministry’s most transformative policies, I find it necessary to provide clarity and set the records straight.
On Achievements Claimed:
1.Free Senior High School (FSHS):
The claim that Dr. Adutwum played a leading role in the introduction of FSHS is patently false. Free SHS was launched by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on September 12, 2017, with Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (popularly known as NAPO) as the substantive Minister of Education. When the policy was approved in cabinet had barely been sworn into office as Deputy Minister. He had no influence on Cabinet approval. FSHS remains President Akufo-Addo’s flagship programme, designed and championed by NAPO.
2.Double Track System:
Another falsehood. The Double Track Calendar was introduced in 2018 to absorb the surging enrolments from Free SHS. Cabinet approval was sought by Minister NAPO, who subsequently briefed the media and stakeholders. At no point was Dr. Adutwum responsible for its conceptualization, approval, or roll-out.
3.STEM Education:
The introduction of STEM into Ghana’s curricula was a NAPO-led Cabinet-approved policy in 2019. The new school curriculum; Basic STEM at the primary level and advanced STEM at JHS/SHS was designed and implemented under his leadership. The iTECH Global contract for STEM schools and the initial construction of STEM institutions were all initiated during NAPO’s tenure. To suggest otherwise is to distort well-documented facts.
4.National Standardised Test (NST):
Again, this was a component of the new curriculum reforms approved under NAPO, with Mr. Prince Hamid Armah as Director-General of NaCCA at the time. It was not the brainchild of Dr. Adutwum.
5.TVET Retooling:
Every major stride in the TVET sector was achieved during NAPO’s tenure as Minister. The establishment of CTVET, GTVET, NVTI reforms, and 20 state-of-the-art TVET institutions were coordinated under Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah of COTVET. The TVET policy framework and retooling drive had no input from Dr. Adutwum, who was not even part of the expert committee that drafted it.
6.Communities of Excellence Project:
This initiative was established to promote educational excellence.
On Recognition and Impact:
1.International Recognition:
The much-touted certificate from U.S. Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove, though commendable, does not equate to expert recognition of Ghana’s educational transformation. By contrast, Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education honoured Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh as “Minister of the Year” in 2020, specifically for his leadership in implementing FSHS and broader educational transformation.
2.Local Awards and Recognition:
Under NAPO’s stewardship (2017–2020), the Ministry of Education won multiple excellence awards, with NAPO himself being crowned Minister of the Year on three separate occasions. These honours are verifiable and speak to his unrivalled impact.
This is not to suggest that Dr. Adutwum has nothing to his credit. Indeed, he ably led the Ministry of Education between 2021 and 2024 and recorded notable accomplishments during his tenure. However, facts are facts, and I state them without malice or prejudice: the landmark policies being claimed today were conceived, approved, and implemented under the leadership of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.
As custodians of history, we must resist the temptation to politicize facts. Ghana’s educational transformation is a collective story, but the credit for its boldest and most impactful strides belongs squarely to the administration led by President Akufo-Addo with Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh as Minister of Education.
Vincent Ekow Assafuah Esq.
Former Public Relations Officer
Ministry of Education (2017–2020)
