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Member of Parliament (MP) for Sekondi constituency in the Western Region, Hon Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer has lauded President Nana Akufo-Addo for introducing free Senior High School (SHS) policy to alleviate the burden on families to send their children to school.

According to Hon. Egyapa Mercer, but for this social intervention, many families would be struggling to see their children complete SHS.

The first batch of the free SHS beneficiaries called ''Akufo-Addo graduates'' commenced their West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) today, July 20.

About 313,837 final year students will be taking part in the exams.

President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo sent his best wishes to the students.

“We, therefore, must do everything possible, even in the midst of a pandemic, to guarantee the prospects of our youth, protect their potential, and, thereby, help preserve our collective future,” he said.

Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on ''Kokrokoo'' on Peace FM, Hon. Egyapa Mercer thanked the President for being considerate towards Ghanaian school children.

''Free SHS has removed the burden on a greater majority of people who couldn't afford to send their children to school. You can't under any circumstances downplay it...For so many families, today marks an end to 3 years of benefit that this government has provided; 3 years of relief, 3 years of joy that their children, but for this policy, have also completed SHS.''

He further lambasted political critics who decide to downplay the President's policy despite its enormous benefits to Ghana's education system.

''Do they even understand the free SHS policy? Because if you understand, you won't even raise issues about the differential necessarily because every single incremental impacts significantly our ability to enhance human capital. Also, the government's rationale for implementing the free SHS was purely to give room for Ghanaians who ordinarily can't get money for school to go to school. The government decided not to discriminate with this policy but rather do a blanket government scholarship for every Ghanaian child who goes to public school'', he asserted.

He also wished the students good luck in their exams.