Bawumia takes on Mahama over free SHS comment
Vice President, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, has criticized the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama over his recent comments about the government’s flagship Free Senior High School policy.
Speaking at the commissioning an ultra-modern Fertilizer Blending Factory at Asuboi in the Ayensuano District of the Eastern Region on Thursday, Dr. Bawumia said John Mahama and the NDC have nothing new to offer Ghanaians if given another chance.
“You have been criticsing this policy since 2012 but as at today, he [Mahama] is not able to tell us exactly what he will do. What will you do? What are your concrete policies? Tell us exactly what you would do? If you are not going to do double track, what is your alternative?”
Mr. Mahama at a recent meeting with some students in Kumasi refuted the NPP’s claims that the NDC will cancel the free SHS policy should they return to the office.
He admitted that Free SHS is here to stay and cannot be reversed by any government.
His remarks were in response to President Nana Akufo-Addo’s claims that a return of the NDC would mean a cancellation of the Free SHS policy.
John Mahama said that a future NDC government will hold stakeholder consultations to address the bottlenecks confronting the smooth implementation of the policy.
“In the first three months of my coming into office we will hold a stakeholder consultation with parents, teachers and educational experts to identify and eliminate all the bottlenecks that are affecting the implementation of free SHS programme. Free SHS is here to stay.
“Indeed it is underpinned and guaranteed by the 1992 constitution of Ghana and it cannot be reversed by any government. All administrations including this one and any future one have an obligation to make it a qualitative and enjoyable experience for our children.”
