A renowned economist and lecturer at the Kumasi Polytechnic, Mr. Kusi Boafo says President Akufo-Addo should not have started the implementation of his long standing Free Senior High School [SHS] policy in his first year in office.
According to him, President Akufo-Addo should have slowed down on the implementation of the Free SHS policy as the economic strength of the country is still down.
Speaking on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Mr. Kusi Boafo insisted that the country’s economy needs stability; thus the President should not put pressure on his government to deliver on his promises to Ghanaians while the ailing economy needs time to heal.
He urged President Akufo-Addo to make Ghanaians understand the state of the economy in order not to succumb to the pressure of the masses to fulfil all promises.
“Free education is associated with Nana Akufo-Addo for a long time and nobody can deny that, but the economic strength of the country is down and so one would have suggested that a slow down on the policy will help till the economy is stable,” he urged.
He however suggested that President Akufo-Addo should have started his Free SHS policy in his second year as by that year, the economy would have been in a proper shape to kick start this landmark exercise in the country.
“I would have wished that Free SHS will start in second year of Nana Akufo-Addo in office or even in his third year, because I think the economy should be put on a proper footing. This is a landmark exercise; only that it won’t be easy and it will call for serious commitment to make it achievable,” he suggested.
He therefore advised President Nana Akufo-Addo to cut down government machinery at the Flagstaff House in a bid to do a good job in government and also beat down the expenditure at the Presidency as the previous government failed to do so.
“In the previous government, expenditure at the Flagstaff House was more than the budget for the Agriculture sector and Agriculture is our economic backbone as a country. This government should cut down the number of cars at the Presidency and channel the monies to something else . . . I don’t want them to buy cars immediately,” he advised.
Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
I beg to differ mr Economist. Your point is like a father having money in the bank and waiting for interest to generate whilst his children sit at home without school fees. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY STUDENTS WILL DROP OUT OF SCHOOL DUE TO PARENTS INABILITY TO PAY ADMISSION FEES INTO SEC. SCHOOLS? IS IT JUSTIFIABLE AS A COUNTRY? WHATEVER IS WORTH DOING, IS BETTER DOING IT NOW NO MATTER THE COST. GHANA CAN FINANCE IT IF WE REDUCE THE WASTAGE. THE PROBLEM IS NOT LACK OF FUNDS. BUT CORRUPTION
Pilolo your modas is the okraman..KWAAASSSSIIIAAAA!!!
This whole free education issue must be thought through very well otherwise we will end up destroying the quality of education in our top SHS like Prempeh College, Wesley girls etc. due to delays in government payments just like the NHIS. There is no point giving free education to parents who can afford it. Let those parents pay! The government can come in and pay for needy students. Let's save the money and use it on other pressing needs. It makes no sense for government to be paying the fees Paa Kwesi Ndoum/Kennedy Agyapong kids for example when they can afford it. Our very good SHS will lose their quality and people will end up sending their kids to private schools.
Nana Addo and his cohorts are going to bankrupt the country with their free this and free that ***barred word***. Also, very soon, Bawumia will suggest we re-denominate the cedi so one cedi may equal one euro. Lol
PLEASE DONT SPOIL THE SHOW FOR US OO. LET NANA DO HIS WORK. HE DIDNT PROMISE FREE SCHOOL IN HIS SECOND TERM. HE SAID WHEN WE VOTE FOR HIM WE WILL HAVE FREE SCHOOL AND WE HAVE VOTED N HE IS THE PRESIDENT WHAY WAIT FOR SECOND TERM. WHAT IF HE LOST THE NEXT ELECTION. MASA DONT BRING YOURSELF
***barred word*** people commenting here with ***barred word*** ideas that Nana Addo should not make SHS free. NATION WRECKERS. IN EUROPE AND AMERICA EDUCTAION IS FREE AND THATS WHY THEY ARE ALWAYS AHEAD OF US. ETHIOPIA IS DOING IT AND NOW NONE OF THEIR CITIZENS TRAVEL OUT FOR JOBS COS THEY HAVE THE SKILLS TO WORK IN THE COUNTRY. ID1OTS!
Free Compulsory Basic education (class one to SHS) was adopted by Ghana and many countries years ago. SHS includes basic education and it is free in many countries. This is a United nations policy and SHS is free in all developed countries because it includes basic education. You pay for daycare, and Tertiary education only in most countries in the world.
This by force NPP economist
It is business as usual just a different head at the top I must say i am very surprised he rushed it. But who am I to complain if the dogs at the top a ***barred word*** i guess the kids deserve a free mediocre education at least.
Education shouldn't be free. Instead, it should be affordable. Otherwise, the government will destroy private schools, not to mention accumulate a huge bill for that endeavor.