Ken Agyapong fights Mahama over Free SHS review comment

Outspoken Assin Central lawmaker, Kennedy Agyapong has advised the National Democratic Congress and former President Mahama to shush and stop blaming Ghana’s economic issues on the Free Senior High School programme.

According to the MP, Mahama and his NDC supporters have failed to check their facts, hence their propaganda with the educational policy.

Mr. Agyapong’s comments follow a plan by former President Mahama who is aspiring to be the 2020 flagbearer of the NDC, to review the Free SHS policy to help resolve the challenges of space when he is re-elected as president.

Government is under pressure to find sustainable source of funding for the Free SHS programme as budget for the policy has increased from GHS400 million in 2017 to GHS 1.2 billion in the 2018 budget.

Mahama is of the view that the policy was rushed and needs to be restructured to find a lasting solution to the challenges that have forced government to introduce the “double track system”.

He observed that the policy is struggling because government failed to seek expert advice and stakeholder consultation before rolling out the programme.

 "If Ghanaians come together, we can come out with a workable timetable for implementing free SHS. Our NPP friends, they don't listen to advice, they think they know everything," Mahama told party members in Coast North Constituency in the Central Region as part of his tour of the region head of the NDC presidential primaries.

But reacting to this on Adom TV’s morning show, Mr. Agyapong said, the mismanagement of the economy by the former president is the cause of the economic distress.



“What is the truth in what they’re saying? Has hospitals collapsed? Are you saying we’re not constructing roads? Go there and see if we’re not building roads. How can a politician come and sit here and say because of Free SHS nothing is working in the country?” he inquired.

According to him, the NPP has fixed some of the mess the NDC created including the power crisis and subsequent reduction in electricity for Ghanaians and still working relentless to provide relief for citizens.

He accused the NDC of embarking on a deceptive campaign to make the competent Nana Akufo-Addo administration unpopular although government is fixing the mess they (NDC) created during their tenure.



“Everything is going on well. Agriculture is improving. Even the manufacturing sector was negative, today it’s what? You were against free education and we suffered power crisis under you because you couldn’t get money to pay the producers. We’re ahead of time and paying them that’s why we have stable electricity. You even doubted NPP could reduce the cost of electricity now check your electricity and speak the truth to Ghanaians. Why are you deceiving people like that? We have saved money,” the legislator stated.