Havard Invites Napo Over Free SHS

FIVE YEARS after leaving office as Ghana’s Education Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh’s good works in that crucial ministry is still following him and winning him top awards in the international arena.

The former Manhyia South Lawmaker has been presented with the ‘Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program’s Medal of Achievement’ award, for spearheading the smooth implementation of the free Senior High School (SHS) policy.

Originally, the prestigious award was awarded to Dr. Opoku Prempeh, who is widely known as ‘Napo’ in 2020, but he couldn’t travel to the United States at the time due to the Covid-19 pandemic so it was presented to him virtually.

In 2025, Napo, who is an alumnus of the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program, has been invited by Havard University to share his experience with current beneficiaries of the programme. His award was therefore officially presented to him.

The Havard Ministerial Leadership Program is a non-prescriptive Program designed to support appointed Ministers in doing what they do, serving their countries, was invited by Havard University to share his experience.

According to a statement by Havard University, Napo “As Minister for Education, he led reforms in secondary education, successfully fulfilling his mandate and leaving a legacy, especially in the implementation of the free SHS policy, which has improved access to education.

“Recognized for his achievements, Dr. Prempeh was awarded the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program’s Medal of Achievement in 2020. However, due to the pandemic, the award was presented virtually. This year, during the Forum, he finally received the honor in person.

“When appointed, Dr. Prempeh was tasked by his President to deliver Free Senior High School (Free SHS) in his country, a new policy program that would provide free education, paying for a total of 41 items, including tuition, meals, textbooks, and boarding for Ghanaian children qualified for secondary education.

“Appointed in February 2017, he attended the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program in June of the same year. By September 2017, just seven months after his appointment, Dr. Prempeh launched Free SHS nationwide and, consequently, increased SHS attendance in Ghana”.

Napo in his acceptance speech, recounted how the rich knowledge and experience he gained from the Havard Ministerial Leadership Program contributed immensely to help him to implement the free SHS programme without a hitch.

In his own words, he said “Harvard opened my eyes to delivery units, stakeholder mapping, and rapid implementation. It showed me how to track every detail, so nothing slipped through. That’s how we launched Free SHS in just seven months.

“My participation in the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program gave me top-notch knowledge and skills in leadership, governance, and management.

“I got the opportunity to hear and learn firsthand the success stories and the pitfalls to avoid from a wide range of current and former ministers from across the globe”, adding that free SHS has helped to reduce school dropouts.