Kofi Adams supports Mahama’s review of Free SHS policy

A former National Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Adams has supported former President Mahama’s decision to review the Free Senior High School his first 90-days in the office if elected in the 2020 general elections.

According to him, Free SHS is constitutional, it must be implemented, but it must be implemented properly according to a clear plan that carries all stakeholders along. He said an NDC government has no such thoughts on its drawing board, but will rather improve it.

He explained that,” The NDC started the progressive free senior High School Policy and that they had plans to extend it even while in office,”Kofi Adams exclusively told Lawyer Ohene Gyan on Pae Mu Ka on Accra-based Kingdom FM 107.7.

“When the NDC is elected into power in 2020, we are going to provide infrastructure to absorb more students into the free SHS policy. The NDC will not in any way collapse such a good policy,” he stated.

“I want to assure you that if NDC come to power again, we will hold a stakeholder consultation on how to implement this policy so that we don’t toy with the lives of our students”

According to Mr. Kofi Adams, it was sad to note that due to the free SHS policy, quality service delivery has reduced drastically.

“The development of every nation is hinged on education and such should not be manipulated for political gains. He said, “Knowledge is important that is why the topic of education evokes such passion in our nation because it is about the future of our young people”.

Background

Former President Mahama has insisted that he will review the government’s flagship free-SHS policy within his first 90-days in office if elected in the 2020 general elections.

Speaking at a meeting with the leaders of the Ghana National Council for Private Schools (GNACOPS) in Accra on Wednesday he noted “within the first 90-days after I take office as the president of Ghana, I will call for the arrangement of a very broad stakeholder and consultative meeting on the way forward for a better free SHS.”

He, however, promised not to turn his back to private basic schools when back to power.

“The NDC shall ensure that all issues raised which are feasible and doable will be factored into the NDC manifesto,” he said.

During the 2016 elections, the NDC held the position that Ghana is not ready for free SHS. The NDC government said there is the need to expand infrastructure and improve quality.

The Akufo-Addo government after winning power has kept it at three years but said it has tackled the problem of financial access by introducing free SHS.