NPP’s Free SHS really helped my family – Jeneral Ntatia

Ghanaian comedian and actor Jeneral Ntatia has explained that the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy played a significant role in his family’s life, particularly by enabling his youngest sibling to complete senior high school without paying tuition fees.

The comedian, whose real name is Prince Kwame Amoabeng, said the policy was a major reason behind his decision to support the NPP, insisting that his political allegiance was influenced by his personal experience rather than merely partisan considerations.

Speaking during a recent interview with Nikki Samonas on Joy Prime, Ntatia disclosed that his youngest sibling attended Labone Senior High School under the Free SHS programme.

He explained that his family faced serious financial challenges, making it difficult to provide education for all the children. According to him, without the policy, his youngest sibling might have struggled to complete secondary education.

“I believe that Free SHS was something that really put people on; students went to school and that’s the reason I got love for it. Our last born went to Labone Senior High School for free. Had it not been it, probably our last born may not have been able to go to school because it wasn’t easy. So I decided that for all children to go to school, then let me go for NPP and I’m stuck there,” he said.

Ntatia further explained that the loss of both parents placed additional responsibilities on him, as he had to help cater for his younger siblings’ education and general welfare.

He said he began taking responsibility for his siblings while still at university, a situation that deepened his appreciation for policies capable of reducing the financial burden on families.

“People don’t understand, by then my parents were gone and Free SHS really helped,” he added.

The comedian said some of the criticism he faced for openly supporting the NPP did not fully reflect the personal circumstances that shaped his political decision.

His comments highlight the importance he attaches to access to education and the role government policies can play in helping families overcome financial barriers to schooling.

Ntatia’s support for the NPP has also drawn public attention because of his involvement in campaigning for the party during the 2020 general elections. He has maintained that his position is rooted in his belief in the Free SHS policy.

He has also urged Ghanaians to support the party’s flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, ahead of the 2028 general elections.

His remarks come amid continuing public debate over the implementation, funding and long-term impact of Free SHS, one of the NPP’s flagship education policies introduced under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

For Ntatia, however, the programme’s impact is personal: he believes it helped ensure that his youngest sibling could complete secondary school at a time when his family was struggling financially.

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