Former President John Dramani Mahama has rejected some media reports suggesting that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would scrap the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme should they come into power.
In a post on Facebook, Mr Mahama acknowledged the constitutionality of the Free SHS programme but held the view that its implementation was rushed.
The former President last Saturday during a Unity Walk organised by supporters of the NDC at Tarkwa called for a broader consultation on how to fund the Free SHS programme, noting that “This voluntary contribution ‘lalasulala’ will not be successful.”
Mr Mahama’s in his Facebook post on Tuesday reiterated the call arguing that “a more carefully considered plan of implementation adopted by broad stakeholder consultation would have resulted in clear policies and guidelines which would have avoided the current challenges plaguing the programme.”
Below is the full post by the former President
NDC WILL NOT REVERSE FREE SHS
There are no "naysayers" when it comes to free SHS. After all it was recognized and enshrined in our constitution by the ordinary people of this nation who gathered at the Consultative Assembly and drew up the 1992 constitution.
Disagreement over the programme is about the optimal pace of implementation. A more carefully considered plan of implementation adopted by broad stakeholder consultation would have resulted in clear policies and guidelines, which would have avoided the current challenges plaguing the programme and putting our students in harms way.
This view is not mine only. Many in the NPP and non-partisan civil society hold the same opinion. It is not too late to hold a national stakeholders forum on the Free SHS Programme in order to carry the whole nation along. The current legacy-seeking and ad hoc manner of implementation will multiply the current implementational problems over the next 3 years.
The false publication by a newspaper that the NDC will reverse free SHS is most laughable, false and diversionary.
Free SHS is constitutional, it must be implemented, but it must be implemented properly according to a clear plan that carries all stakeholders along.
Source: Daily Graphic
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For want of political power,some Ghanaian politicians know no shame, you said the free SHS was not possible, now you are saying you won't reverse it,i cant think far,the N D C may come back to power one day but certainly not under the banner of Mahama,what you have chopped is ok, let top red and the others also enjoy small, after all 'ye be deee keke'
WE GHANAIANS HAVE HEARD, SEEN AND KNOW WHAT THE NDC PARTY CAN DO TO OUR FREE SHS EDUCATION, SO MASTER FORGET IT UNTIL YEAR 2067 ELECTIONS. THANK YOU ONAPO TUUUU JDM WITH YOUR NDC PARTY.
Incompetent John Mahama must tell us now how you will finance the free SHS since your boys are saying it is not sustainable..... This guy has started the sweet promises they will not be able to fulfil. In any case NDC is never going to come to power again in the next century....
I always want to ask, 'Is Free SHS belongs to the children of NPP supporters alone or NDC also, and for that matter the whole Ghana'? Why is that NDC fighting this good thing of the country. I am ndc supporter but for this one de3 as3m s3d3.
look at the joker
NDC AND MAHAMA HAVE NOTHING GOOD FOR GHANAIANS. LOOK AT ZOOM LION, NHIS, SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAM. THEY DESTROYED EVERYTHING.
LOOK AT NHIS HOW THEY COLLAPSED IT???? Let's us look at NHIS, how Mahama collapsed the nice ideas from the NPP. He is going to do the same thing to Free JHS. Don't listen to him.
Trust me, if they should hold a stakeholders forum as is being suggested these NDC guys would have shot the idea down as they are frantically doing now. The lack ideas to be proactive. The present President looks beyond and afar.
You cannot reverse it in the unlikely event you are voted into power, but you will leave it to die with debts as you did with the NHIS. It will not be your priority. Ghanaians know your priority, sharing of V8, creating ***barred word*** and share.