Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong has slammed former President, John Dramani Mahama for his comments regarding the government’s Free SHS policy.
The aspiring presidential candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said he would convene a stakeholders’ forum to review the policy because the Free SHS in its present form lacks a proper plan.
The government has interpreted his comments to mean that he will collapse the programme if voted into office.
But in a statement signed by Mr Mahama’s spokesperson, James Agyenim-Boateng, John Mahama, said his review of the policy simply means a broad stakeholder consultation, describing the NPP’s interpretation as “regrettable”.
READ ALSO
Audio: Kennedy Agyapong names groups impeding Ghana’s progress
You couldn’t manage even Kumasi – Wontumi mocks Kojo Bonsu
NDC’s party position doesn’t pay; ‘I just love to serve’ – Asiedu Nketia
‘Ghana is a serious country; you can’t be president’ – Ade Coker blasts Kojo Bonsu
Sampson Ahi, Member of Parliament for Bodi in the Western Region on Adom TV’s morning show Badwam Tuesday has also described the government’s interpretation as mischievous.
He has also described the government’s neglect of other programmes at the expense of the Free SHS programme as an impediment to the development of the country.
He said he has a strong conviction that the Akufo-Addo-led government may deviously make the marking scheme for BECE candidates very high in order to ensure that not many students pass the exams to benefit from the scheme.
“The programme is preventing development in the country. Even if we have to undergo massive infrastructure, the NPP, led by Nana Addo will use free SHS as an excuse; it’s not helping” he said.
But Kennedy Agyapong who was not impressed by his colleague’s comment on the issue descended on the former Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing.
He went ahead to describe the comments by the former President as a lack of understanding of the workings of the Free SHS policy.
He expressed disappointment over NDC’s failure to back the policy, saying the party must learn to commend whatever is in the best interest of the country.
“I think the NDC, led by Mahama, lacks understanding on the issue. It’s only the NDC who needs interpreters whenever they are talking because that interpreter needs to interpret it well for us. Perhaps, we need to teach them more on the issue,” he said.
Mr Agyapong has urged Mr Mahama to declare his true intentions as to whether his review of the policy meant abolishing it or addressing certain expects of it.