Free SHS Policy Bill To Be Laid Before Parliament- Majority Leader

A Bill aimed at providing a legal framework for Government’s flagship policy, the Free Senior High School (SHS) is expected tro be laid before Parliament within the course of this meeting of the House, Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin has disclosd.

According to the leader of Government Business in the legilative arm of the House, the passage of the Bill would provide cushioning to the implementation of the policy despite the constitutional imperative of the pro-poor education policy.

Mr Afenyo-Markin who is MP for Effutu in the Central region made the disclosure during an interaction dubbed: parliamentary leadership engagement with the Parliamentary Press Corps in Accra yesterday as Parliment retuns from recess.

He indicated that, it was critical to commit successive governments to the policy so as to continue giving the Ghanaian child the platform to get educated irrespective of their financial background.

He explained that though the policy has been implemented since 2017, a future government may decide not to continue with it and would not be in breach of any law.

“If [the Bill is passed] and a government fails to implement the policy, a citizen can apply to the court as his bonafide and the court would exact justice in that citizen’s favour and that is the hood news about this bill,” he said.

He said similar provisions are contained in the constitution but could not be enforced and to make the FSHS policy enforceable, there was the need to legislate same to bind governments to it.

The meeting was to brief parliamentary reporters on the planned activities of the legislature as it resumed sitting yesterday having been in recess since March.

Other bills to be considered during this meeting include the Presidential Transition Bill, Consumer Protection Bill, Housing Authority Bill, and the Architectural Registration Bill.

The rest are the Economic and Organised Crime Office Amendment Bill, Environmental Protection Agency Bill, Affirmative Action Bill, and the Vaccine Development and Manufacturing Bill.

The majority leader said having approved the new standing orders of the House, some committees, including Finance, Defence and Interior, amongst others have been be realigned to respond to current needs of the country.

With the December 2024 election fast approaching, Mr Afenyo-Markin entreated reporters to play their gate-keeping role and sieve the information from the House and serve the public with accurate reportage.

Deputy Clerk In-charge of Information Management Services, Mrs Gloria Sarku Kumawu speaking on behalf of the Clerk to Parliament revealed that in line with the new standing orders, some Committees would be open to the media to deepen open governance.

She said the media must take advantage of the opportunity to serve as a credible bridge between the legislative assembly and the people to better inform them on the happenings not only on the floor of the House but at the Committee level.

By: Christian Kpesese