Free SHS has been beneficial for the North and for all of Ghana – Bawumia

General News of Monday, April 22, 2019

Source: Graphic.com.gh

2019-04-22

Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia said that the policy on the free movement of adults introduced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is a transformational policy designed to strengthen the nation's human capital for its future development.

He added that public spending on free SHS should therefore be considered as a necessary investment for Ghana's future.

Speaking Saturday in Obo Kwahu, in the eastern region, Bawumia said that during independence, the North had negotiated for the Nkrumah government to agree to set up a free education.

According to him, this policy has been very beneficial for northern Ghana. "I am a beneficiary of free education in the north, just like many members of the CND, including former president Mahama, and I am absolutely convinced that at this stage of our development, every Ghanaian student in SHS should be able to take advantage of Free SHS, "vice president President Bawumia pointed out.

"I therefore have a hard time understanding that people like President Mahama, direct beneficiaries of free education in the north, will seek to limit its implementation throughout the country." he said.

Mr. Bawumia said that while the Free SHS program is expensive, it would be more expensive for the country to have a large number of people without education. "Our mission should therefore be to help develop and manage Ghana's resources so that we can provide and sustain this transformation policy."

Since the national launch, in September 2017, of the program to provide free secondary education to all young Ghanaians, former President Mahama in particular and the NDC in general have questioned the reason for it. to be of the program, arguing that it was a misplaced priority. would have disastrous consequences on the finances of the nation.

Dr. Bawumia said that "free SHS can not be the problem. We are implementing so many programs to reduce the hardships of Ghanaians, such as mbadive power cuts, the implementation of One Village One Dam policies, One District One Warehouse, while increasing subsidies. capitation and allowances granted to persons with disabilities ". The president said.

"We have reduced import duties on goods and cars, hired 100,000 graduates under NABCO, canceled postgraduate medical training fees, reinstated book allocations and research for speakers, created jobs and put an end to the hiring freeze in the public sector. More than 350,000 people have been recruited.

"But even without Free SHS, your government has canceled teacher training allowances, nurse training allowances, import tax exemptions for health professionals and increased taxes on all imaginable goods such as condoms, ambulances and cutlbades. You failed to provide jobs to thousands of qualified graduates

"We (nuclear power plants) are able to implement all of these policies alongside Free SHS because we are growing and managing the economy in a cautious manner. All young Ghanaians deserve free secondary education, and Nana Akufo-Addo's government will do it, "he said.