NDC will not reverse Free SHS – Mahama

Former President John Dramani Mahama has rejected some media reports suggesting that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would scrap the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme should they come into power.

In a post on Facebook, Mr Mahama acknowledged the constitutionality of the Free SHS programme but held the view that its implementation was rushed.

The former President last Saturday during a Unity Walk organised by supporters of the NDC at Tarkwa called for a broader consultation on how to fund the Free SHS programme, noting that “This voluntary contribution ‘lalasulala’ will not be successful.”

Read also: Government proposes donations to support Free SHS

Mr Mahama’s in his Facebook post on Tuesday reiterated the call arguing that “a more carefully considered plan of implementation adopted by broad stakeholder consultation would have resulted in clear policies and guidelines which would have avoided the current challenges plaguing the programme.”

Read also: Funding of Free SHS. . .Mahama wants broader discussion

Below is the full post by the former President

NDC WILL NOT REVERSE FREE SHS

There are no "naysayers" when it comes to free SHS. After all it was recognized and enshrined in our constitution by the ordinary people of this nation who gathered at the Consultative Assembly and drew up the 1992 constitution.

Disagreement over the programme is about the optimal pace of implementation. A more carefully considered plan of implementation adopted by broad stakeholder consultation would have resulted in clear policies and guidelines, which would have avoided the current challenges plaguing the programme and putting our students in harms way.

This view is not mine only. Many in the NPP and non-partisan civil society hold the same opinion. It is not too late to hold a national stakeholders forum on the Free SHS Programme in order to carry the whole nation along. The current legacy-seeking and ad hoc manner of implementation will multiply the current implementational problems over the next 3 years.

The false publication by a newspaper that the NDC will reverse free SHS is most laughable, false and diversionary.

Free SHS is constitutional, it must be implemented, but it must be implemented properly according to a clear plan that carries all stakeholders along.