A new debate has erupted over who deserves credit for Ghana’s major educational reforms. In a fiery statement, Vincent Ekow Assafuah Esq., the Ministry of Education’s former Public Relations Officer, challenged what he calls a “revisionist account” of events.
Assafuah, who served from 2017 to 2020, argues that Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO), the minister during that period, was the true force behind several flagship policies. He directly refutes claims made by Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum’s spokesperson, Mr. Yaw Opoku Mensah, asserting that the following were conceived, approved, and implemented under NAPO’s leadership:
On Free Senior High School (FSHS) and Double Track System: Assafuah states that FSHS was the brainchild of President Akufo-Addo and championed by NAPO, with the Double Track system introduced to accommodate the resulting high enrollment.
Touching on STEM Education: He credits NAPO with introducing the new STEM curriculum and initiating new STEM schools.
In reference to the National Standardised Test (NST) and TVET Retooling, Assafuah insists that both reforms, along with significant strides in the TVET sector, were approved and implemented during NAPO’s tenure.
Assafuah also points to international and local recognition to back his claims, noting that Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education honored NAPO as “Minister of the Year” in 2020 for his leadership in implementing FSHS and other reforms.
While acknowledging Dr. Adutwum’s own accomplishments as minister from 2021 to 2024, Assafuah maintains that the facts are clear: the most transformative educational policies were initiated and executed under Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh’s watch.
Read Vincent Ekow Assafuah’s Full Statement Below:
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 politicise 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)
Story: Salassie Domfe
