If Free SHS has been good for the North, it will be good for everyone – Bawumia

General News of Monday, April 22, 2019

Source: kasapafmonline.com

2019-04-22

The Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, said that the policy of freedom of life, introduced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was a transformational policy designed to strengthen the country's human capital for its future development. Free SHS public spending should therefore be considered as a necessary investment for Ghana's future.

Speaking at Obo Kwahu in the Eastern Region on Saturday, April 20, 2019, Mr. Bawumia noted that, during independence, the North had negotiated for the Nkrumah government to get an agreement. in view of the introduction of free education. This policy has greatly benefited 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."

Dr. Bawumia said that Free SHS is definitely expensive, but that the country would have a higher cost if a large number of people were not educated. Our mission should therefore be to contribute to the growth and management of Ghana's resources so that we can provide and sustain this transformative 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.

Ironically, former President Mahama and several influential figures in the NDC benefit from the free secondary education policy in northern Ghana, which has been around for decades, but have never advocated its cancellation due to financial difficulties.

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 have failed to provide jobs for 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 the Nana Akufo-Addo government will continue to provide it. "