The Minority in Parliament has dismissed claims that they are against the yet-to-be-introduced Free SHS bill.
According to the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, if there’s anybody against the bill, it should be the NPP Flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who has publicly expressed opposition to a law regulating the Free SHS policy.
Addressing the media in Parliament on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, the Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam MP expressed frustration over the continuous speculations surrounding the bill and the attempt by the Majority leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin to create bad blood between Ghanaians and the NDC.
“In the last few days, my colleague, the majority leader [Alexander Afenyo-Markin] is on record to have accused the NDC minority of not supporting the Free Senior High School bill. Let me put on record that, there is no such bill before parliament. We are hearing from him for the first time that the government is considering a bill to be presented to parliament called the Free Senior High School Bill.”
“But as we speak, there is no bill before parliament. It is important for us to reiterate, that we cannot oppose a bill that we have not seen, we cannot. And we have said it nowhere that we are going to oppose such a bill.”
“How long would this bill take from Flagstaff House to Parliament? Six months, seven years? If it’s coming from the Ministry of Education, it is even closer. How long should it take to move from the Ministry of Education to the Parliament House?”
Dr. Forson urged the NPP to expedite the presentation of the bill, emphasizing the minority’s support for any legislation aimed at improving and sustaining the Free SHS policy.”
“Our position is simple. The NDC minority will, at all times, support any legislation that will seek to improve and sustain the Free Senior High School policy.
“In fact, if there is anybody in this country who is on record to have said that he does not believe in a free SHS law, it is rather the Vice President. The Vice President, Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, is on record to have said that there is no need for a bill or a law to regulate the Free Senior High School and not the NDC. He’s on record, he said, all you need is commitment.”
“I see desperation on the part of the NPP. Rather, they should bring the bill and let the people of Ghana see what is in the bill for all of us to debate the details.”
“We challenge you. We give you one week; bring the bill before us. Let them present the bill before us tomorrow, so we can see the content.”
“So NDC, we are committed, we are committed to the Free Senior High School policy. We have obviously identified some lapses in the implementation.”
By: Ekow Annan/newsalertgh.com
