We need national dialogue on use of Heritage Fund

There is a raging debate about the use of the Heritage Fund to implement the free senior high school (SHS) policy of the Akufo-Addo government. Since President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, then candidate,promised the free SHS, many people have questioned the rationale behind the initiative and how it will be funded.

Opinion is still divided over the source of funding for the free SHS. There is a near convergence of opinion about the free SHS policy. Even the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government which opposed the free SHS policy in 2012, while campaigning at the time, introduced a variant of it called the progressively free SHS in the 2015/16 academic year.

This must tell all Ghanaians that despite the differences and ideologies of the two major political parties, they find a common convergence when it comes to education.

The Daily Graphic takes no position on the use of the Heritage Fund to support education; nonetheless, we commend all those who took various positions on the issue, especially civil society organisations.

What that means is that the government will not have its way on matters of national interest as the people will voice their opinions regardless of who is in power. Be that as it may, the Daily Graphic would want Ghanaians to understand our heritage in the debate over the use or otherwise of the Heritage Fund to support education.

What is the essence of a heritage that cannot guarantee the future of our children? Those making the argument for the use of the fund for the free SHS think that there will be no heritage, if the children who are the future leaders are not helped now to shape their character to become useful future leaders.

They argue also that if in five years, we have accrued just over $200 million, how much shall we have in 15 years’ time when the law establishing the Heritage Fund allows its use, or in 25 years, believed to be the lifespan of oil exploration? With the present level of exploration, how much do we expect to get in 25 years?

The records show that currently we produce about 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day and with TEN and Sankofa coming on stream, how much will be our level of production a day? Is it prudent to wait or use it now to give quality education to our children? The answer lies with the people in whom the sovereignty of the nation resides.

The Daily Graphic thinks that the Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, did well by stating the government’s position on the matter that has set minds at ease, but we think the debate has just begun.

The Daily Graphic encourages all Ghanaians to be active citizens participating in issues that affect our well-being and future.

We believe sitting on the fence may just give the government the opportunity to do things it thinks are appropriate or may use its majority to promote majoritarian rule, although the majority cannot be said to be right all the time.

The Daily Graphic thinks the time has come for all to initiate a national dialogue on issues such as the use of the Heritage Fund so that even with the diametrically opposed positions, we can build consensus to ensure that the national interest prevails.

As we debate the use of the Heritage Fund, we urge that there should be no room for name-calling, but we should rather give room to everybody to speak his or her mind on the way forward.