The National Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi has said the party will not remain silent on the implementation of the free senior high school (SHS) policy.
In a lengthy Facebook post in response to investigative journalist Manasseh Azure’s comments, Gyamfi noted “Your suggestion that we should keep mute even in the face of deliberate lies about our stance and record on an important issue such as free SHS, simply because many have already come to believe the NPP’s false narrative is totally misconceived.”
Manasseh had, in an earlier post, refuted the NDC and its flagbearer John Mahama’s claim that they were the first to launch free SHS in Ghana.
However, the NDC communicator contested several claims by Manasseh, providing evidence from official documents to back assertions that the NDC initiated progressively free SHS in 2015 under John Mahama.
Sammy Gyamfi quoted paragraph 781 of the 2017 budget which stated the total 2015/2016 expenditure on progressively free SHS was GHS25.96 million, not the GHS12.1 million cited.
The NDC communication officer insisted President Mahama’s explanation of the party’s free SHS record to journalists was “truthful” and criticised the NPP’s attempt “to call Mahama a liar over this truthful answer.”
Read a copy of his full write-up below;
“1. My brother, you are right that Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo was the first to promise free SHS in the year 2008. However, even before Akufo-Addo promised Free SHS in the run up to the 2008 elections, article 25(1)(b) of the 1992 constitution had already provided for the progressive introduction of free secondary school education. True or false?
2. The main point of disagreement between the NDC and NPP on the free SHS debate was on the issue of implementation approach. Whereas the NPP advocated for a wholesale implementation approach, the NDC advocated for a progressive implementation approach, while equally prioritizing access and quality. True or false?
3. In September 2015, H.E. John Dramani Mahama launched progressively free SHS, as had been canvassed by the NDC all along. True or false?
4. UNESCO commended John Mahama in October 2015 for commencing the progressively free SHS program. Even before that, Nana Addo had publicly lauded Mahama for commencing the implementation of progressively free SHS. True or false?
5. The progressively free SHS program launched by John Mahama in 2015 absorbed GHS54 of the fees of 1st year and continuing day students and GHS58 of the fees of 1st year boarding students for the 2016/2017 academic year and not GHS38 as claimed by you. This is contained in a widely published official release from the Ghana Education Service. See https://www.modernghana.com/news/719093/ges-releases-approved-fees-for-senior-high-schools.html
True or false?
6. The GHS12.1 million you are talking about about, was only the first financial release by government for the implementation of the progressively free SHS program. The total EXPENDITURE by government on the progressively free SHS program for the 2015/2016 academic year was an amount of GHS25.96 million. This is contained at paragraph 781 of the NPP’s own 2017 budget approved by Parliament. True or false?
7. The progressively free SHS program initiated by the NDC/Mahama government in 2015, benefited 320,488 day students in public SHS. Government also announced an intention to include 120,000 targeted boarding students in the program for the 2016/2017 academic year. This is contained at paragraph 109 of the 2016 mid-year budget review statement approved by Parliament. True or false?
8. When Akufo-Addo took office, he implemented free SHS for all 1st year day and boarding students in September 2017. However, continuing students (day and boarding) were not covered under the policy. Continuing students were roped in progressively. True or false?
My good brother, it is true that majority of Ghanaians have come to believe the NPP’s false narrative that free SHS was conceived and started by Akufo-Addo and the NPP. Many even believe the NPP’s lie that “the NDC has always been against free SHS and will cancel it if elected.” But the fact that many people believe something, doesn’t make it true.
The NPP will continue to make Free SHS an issue in this campaign whether or not the NDC keeps mute about it.
Your suggestion that we should keep mute even in the face of deliberate lies about our stance and record on an important issue such as free SHS, simply because many have already come to believe the NPP’s false narrative is totally misconceived.
President Mahama was asked a specific question by Nimatu of Ghanaweb at his recent encounter with the media. The question was: what is your position on free SHS and will you cancel it if elected? Were you expecting President Mahana to ignore the question?
President Mahama’s answer was simple: I launched progressively free SHS in 2015. Then candidate Akufo-Addo and UNESCO lauded me at the time. How can I be against a policy I initiated? He continued by indicating that “Free SHS has come to stay”. And that he is only coming to improve its implementation and make it better; by providing a dedicated source of funding for the program; abolishing double-track; decentralizing the procurement of food, among others.
If the NPP decides to call Mahama a liar over this truthful answer, you can’t tell us to keep mute, simply because many have come to believe the lies of the NPP. No we will not keep mute. Rather, we shall set the records straight with incontrovertible facts and allow discerning Ghanaians to judge. President Mahama was truthful in his answer to Nimatu’s question and you know it.”
Source: modernghana.com
