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Original research THE ROLE OF NGOS IN GHANA’S FREE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL POLICY: A MIXED-METHODS EVALUATION OF IMPLEMENTATION DYNAMICSPages 177-184 Abstract
This study examines the role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in implementing Ghana's Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy, introduced in 2017. Using a mixed-methods approach involving questionnaires (n=140), interviews with four NGO leaders, and analysis of NGO databases, the research investigated NGO nature, participation levels, and effectiveness in policy implementation. Results reveal that NGOs demonstrate strong organizational structures and advocacy capabilities, with particularly high effectiveness in capacity-building programs (mean difference = 1.52143, p < .001), community engagement (mean difference = 1.37857, p < .001), and policy influence (mean difference = 1.47143, p < .001). However, collaboration with government agencies showed below-average performance (mean difference = -0.28571, p < .001). Correlation analysis indicated significant relationships between NGO participation and policy outcomes, particularly in awareness creation and community feedback mechanisms. The study identifies 50 education-focused NGOs across 16 regions, with 52% concentrated in Greater Accra. Key challenges include funding constraints, infrastructure gaps in rural areas, and inconsistent government collaboration. The findings contribute to understanding NGO-government partnerships in educational policy implementation and provide recommendations for enhancing collaborative effectiveness in achieving equitable education access.
Keywords: Non-governmental organisations, Free Senior High School policy, educational policy implementation, Ghana, civil society, policy evaluation.
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Benjamin Ankomah-Appiah 
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