The Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has accused the Minority caucus of opposing the proposed bill on the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy. The bill aims to regulate the Free SHS initiative by making it mandatory for future governments to sustain the policy.
Afenyo-Markin revealed that the bill has received executive approval and will be presented to the house by the Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum.
Speaking to journalists in Parliament, Afenyo-Markin demanded that the minority provide reasons for its opposition to the bill. “We have heard the Ranking Member on Education, the Honorable Member for Akatsi North, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, strongly opposing the Free SHS bill. Clearly, the NDC minority doesn’t want to commit to the Free SHS and the idea of enacting a law to make it mandatory.”
He continued, “We have stated time and again that the provisions in the constitution regarding Free SHS are aspirational. Therefore, the appropriate course of action is to enact a law to regulate the Free SHS policy, which is currently in operation.”
Afenyo-Markin added, “The NDC is opposed to this, and they have expressed their stance through their ranking member. We want them to tell Ghanaians whether Free SHS is not their priority as a responsible opposition.”
He elaborated, “The Ministry of Education is going to present the bill to Parliament. We’re ready, and as part of the engagement process, we involved them, but they remain adamant. The NDC is not ready for the Free SHS bill. It’s clear, and their spokesperson on education has been explicit. The last time I tried to address the matter on the floor, he avoided responding and stayed clear of it. He’s not ready to commit himself.”
“In Parliament, the caucus speaks through its spokesperson, and he’s the ranking member on education. He’s the NDC’s spokesperson on education, and he says he is opposed to the bill because of certain constitutional provisions. They should explain to us why they oppose the bill.”
By Eugene Davis
