NDC Is Opposed To Free SHS Bill – Afenyo-Markin

The minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) is opposed to the enactment of a legislation to give legal backing to government’s free Senior High School (SHS) education policy, Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin has alleged.

The proposed Bill which has already received cabinet approval aims to regulate the Free SHS policy by making it mandatory for future governments to safeguard its implementation.

It is expected to be introduced to the Ghanaian legislature in the coming days by the minister responsible for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum.

Addressing parliamentary reporters on Tuesday, June 25, 2024,  Mr Afenyo-Markin who is the honourable member for Effutu said the constitutional provisions on free education are mere aspirations hence the need for a legislative enactment to give the free SHS Policy a backbone.

“We have stated time without number that those provisions in the constitution that talk about Free SHS are very aspirational. The way to go is to enact a law to regulate the Free SHS policy, which is currently in operation”, Mr Afenyo-Markin stated.

He accused the minority NDC caucus of being opposed to the bill and has done so through its Ranking meber on the Education committee of the House, Peter Nortsu Kotoe.

The Majority leader accordingly challenged the NDC caucus to state its stance on the proposed Free SHS Bill.

“The NDC is opposed to this, and they have spoken through their ranking member. We want them to tell Ghanaians whether Free SHS is not their priority, as a responsible opposition.

… “the Ministry of Education is going to ferry the bill through to parliament. We’re ready and as part of the engagement process, we engaged them, but they are adamant. The NDC is not ready for the Free SHS bill. It’s clear, and their spokesperson on education has been clear. The last time I tried to tease the matter out on the floor, he avoided a response and stayed clear of it. He’s not ready to commit himself.

“We know that in Parliament, the caucus speaks through its spokesperson, and he’s the ranking member on education. He’s the NDC’s spokesperson on education, and he says he is opposed to the bill because of some provisions in the constitution. They should tell us why they oppose the bill”, the majority leader has said.

By: Christian Kpesese