Mahama Ayariga’s motion is a populist trip to woo public sympathy – Majority

The Majority Caucus has denied claims by the Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) that it does not support the motion to provide relief to students at public higher education institutions.

The majority also refuted the NDC’s claims that it did not want to reach consensus on the issues.

Deputy Majority Leader Alex Afenyo-Markin said this during a press conference in Parliament on what he described as a “populist trip by Bawku Central MP Mr. Mahama Ayariga to generate public sympathy even before tabling the motion in Parliament. ”

Mr. Ayariga had tabled a motion asking the President to take urgent measures to absorb student fees in public higher education institutions for the 2000/2021 academic year.

The relief program was to include accredited private universities as part of the government’s national COVID-19 mitigation measures.

On Thursday, the House, by majority vote, rejected the motion on the grounds of the majority caucus that the government had already intervened in the fee-paying situation with other relief programs.

The other reasons given by the majority for dismissing the motion were that it was flawed, lacked clarity and was not specific as to the remedies sought.

Mr Afenyo-Markin argued that the majority was not against the motion but wanted Parliament to have a broader view of the issue by ensuring specificity.

“If we really want to do something for the people of Ghana… at a time when businesses are hurting and collapsing and people are becoming unemployed, your main source of income is income, if you don’t have it, can you give, ”he added.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin recalled that while the NPP was talking about the free high school policy and its implementation, the NDC then opposed it.

He said if there was any government or political party to provide support in education, it was the NPP, adding that the NPP had demonstrated this commitment and track record.

Further, any relief that should be given would be given in a way that would have the real benefit of assuring parents and students that the government cares.