VOICE OF THE NATION (VoN) has said comments made by the Minister of Education Hon Dr Mathew Opoku Prempe directed to the Former president of the Republic of Ghana His Excellency John Dramani Mahama is unfortunate.
According to them they have read with utter shock and dismay comments from the education minister, Hon Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh directed at the person of former president John Dramani Mahama. The minister in his bid to explain issues in relation to the implementation of the flagship “free SHS” purported “Mahama doesn’t understand common English”.
In our humble view, these comments are undeserving from a minister to an individual who understands governance more than he does, given the previous positions he has held. Again, it will be in the interest of the minister to humbly admit the shortfalls which have engulfed the free SHS program since it’s inception.
John Mahama only reiterated a position which has been stated by high profile citizens of this nation. For instance, the Chief Justice some weeks ago admonished and called for a broader stakeholder consultation to help in resolving the problems of free SHS.
Secondly, both the president and his minister for finance have indicated the need to find possible sources to fund the flagship program. This information, has been in the public domain for long and the education minister should be much aware of this. Thus, it will be very condescending on the part of Hon Prempeh to suggest that John Mahama doesn’t understand English only when he sought re-echo a position of government whiles addressing party faithfuls.
Ghana deserves better and the future of school children must not be put on trial. Already, the airwaves have been flooded with numerous complaints on the shortfalls of the free SHS program. The minister should therefore take these complaints and suggestions in good faith, get to task and help to solve them.
All Ghanaians, including political parties and pundits in the education sector agree that education should be free. Thus, will want to witness a successful implementation and not one with enormous shortfall just as it is with this flagship program.
Thank you