John Boadu slams NDC over free SHS

National Organizer of the opposition New Patriotic Party says it will not come to him as a surprise if the General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church [ICGC], Dr Mensa Otabil, is used as a movie title following his debatable comments on free education some years back.

He decried how the renowned man of God's tape was unprofessionally used to campaign against the NPP's free education which was the party’s 2012 flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's major message.

“Dr. Mensah Otabil has really suffered under this people [NDC]. The movie producers will soon release a movie about him titled Otabil Amani hunu Part 1&2. He [Mensah Otabil] was scandalized by the NDC that free education is not possible. They [NDC] went to town campaigning with his tape...now all of a sudden NDC sees free education as doable and intend to roll it next year...their hypocrisy knows no measure,” he said

Media reports triggered by a tape recording which suggested that the respected religious teacher, Dr. Otabil was against the free education policy being touted by the NPP became a major talking point prior to the 2012 general elections.

Dr Mensa Otabil was heard on tape making comments which sought to discourage accepting "freebies" because they will eventually turn out not to be of good quality.

The renowned motivational speaker vehemently protested the use of his messages which he said were pieced together and spliced to create the impression that he was commenting directly on the NPP's signature policy proposal.

According to him, the action by the perpetrators - Education Watch - which he considered to be a manipulation of his thoughts, whom he described as affiliates and surrogates of the governing party, was “evil, criminal, and unethical.”

He thus urged the president to intervene and call them to order.

But the NDC strongly hit back with the President replying through a statement issued by the head of communications of the Mahama campaign team, that he (president) could not be held responsible for the actions of persons who may or may not have sympathies with the NDC.

According to the statement, the president has not endorsed any political advert containing Pastor Mensah Otabil’s voice, neither is he aware of any surrogate affiliated to him as being behind the promotion of such tapes.

A year down the line, the Mahama-led NDC government has admitted that the free education policy can be implemented.

However, speaking on Asempa FM, John Boadu slammed the NDC for their hypocritical stance and for needlessly vilifying the ICGC General Overseer.

He also pointed out that, with the current administration having accepted that free education is possible, it therefore means Nana Addo has a future for the country if elected as president come 2016.

“Nana Addo himself has even congratulated the government for accepting that free education is doable. The NDC were making hopeless arguments then,” he said