We’ll continue with Free SHS policy — Mahama

Former President John Mahama, campaigning to lead the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2020 election, says the party will not abolish the free senior high school (SHS) policy if given the mandate to govern.

He said it was not true as being claimed by some people that he “is against the policy”.

What he disagreed with — found completely unacceptable was the double track system.

“I know the benefits of education to the fortunes of development and so NDC will provide the necessary infrastructure to accommodate all students at once.”

Provision of infrastructure

The former President said his party started the Free SHS programme with day students and was working gradually to provide the required infrastructure to accommodate the students and could, therefore, not kick against it.

He was addressing members of the NDC in Koforidua as part of his five-day tour of the Eastern Region to woo delegates to vote for him during the upcoming presidential primary.

Mr Mahama warned that the double track arrangement under the free SHS could destroy the quality of the country’s education.

He told the gathering to ignore what he said were unfounded allegations that he owned a hotel in Dubai and had other huge investments abroad.

Again, the government he led, never issued the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Menzgold, Nana Appiah Mensah, with a diplomatic passport.

Neither does he or his wife own any investments in the troubled gold trading company.

Wresting power from NPP

Mr Mahama, who is in the race for the NDC presidential ticket with six others, asked the delegates to give their votes to him.

He said he would bring victory to the party in 2020 and that Ghanaians “have regretted” the mistake of voting for the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He pledged to work with everybody, including the other contestants if elected by the delegates.

“Whoever emerges the winner, we should all support him to wrest power from the NPP.”—GNA