Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament, Hon. Dr. Clement Apaak, believes former President John Dramani Mahama has been vindicated by the government's likely decision to review the flagship policy, Free Senior High School (SHS).
To him, though it is not too late, it has been long overdue since the policy is a good one, except that it has been "poorly managed".
Speaking On Okay Fm's Ade Akye Abia programme, the Builsa South MP described the Akufo Addo government as "clueless" and not receptive to differing opinions on how to manage the economy, hence the current state of most Ghanaians.
"Former President Mahama was severely censured when he asked that the free SHS policy should be reviewed, but here he is now being vindicated by the very people who lacked foresight and called him all sorts of names.
"Though the FSHS policy is a good one, it has been poorly managed by the government and its appointees.
"....it is rather unfortunate, but things will be made better by the next John Mahama government," he assured.
Free SHS Up For Review – Oppong Nkrumah
All 16 flagship programs of the government including the Free Senior High School are up for stock-taking.
This is according to Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.
This is one of the many decisions taken at a 3-day crunch cabinet meeting, held at Peduase Lodge to proffer solutions to the economic hardships in the country.
"The President has directed that the flagship programs should be protected and fully implemented to ensure that the impact is achieved".
However, he wants it done within the constraints of item number 2 which is the fiscal framework we are working with. If based on the caps that we are working with we will have to rescope a particular flagship program, we will do it and see how much we can achieve," the Information Minister said."
Lack of Accountability
The NDC MP also accused government of not being accountable to Ghanaians on resources spent on the FSHS policy.
According to him, in the 2020 Mid-Year Review of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy (July 23rd 2020) page 2, paragraph 9, government reported that a total of GHC 3.2 billion (3,200,000,000) was spent on fSHS since its inception (2017-2020).
On page 241 of the 2021 Budget Statement and Economic Policy (12th March 2021) government allocated (1.9 billion) 1,974,021,968 to the fSHS programme, which is listed as item 4 in Appendix 6.
Based on items 1 and 2 above, the total expenses on fSHS by the end of 2021 should be 5,174,021,968 (2017-2021).
However, in the 2021 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy (29th July 2021) page 49, paragraph 284, it is contained that since the inception of the fSHS government has invested 7.62 billion (7,620,000,000) to implement the fSHS programme.
Based on items 4 and 5 above, government has expended an additional 2.4 billion (2,445,978,032) on the fSHS programme, which was not budgeted for in the 2021 budget. So far all efforts to get government to account for this extra 2.4 billion has failed, he added.
Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline/[email protected]
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NDC and it HATE against FREE SHS!
This is wishful thinking. Mahama and Apaak are both from the north and both had free education to the highest level of the ladder. Do you see how cruel they are by trying to stop the young people remain illiterate? Apaak had free education to the PhD level while Mahama had free education up to the Masters level. These are people who should be happy with others being given the opportunity to go to school for free. These northers do not think of others but themselves alone.
YES MAHAMA HAS BEEN VINDICATED FOR WANTING TO COME AND CANCEL THE FREE SHS.
HOW SO? Your desperation to return to power is not only pathetic but it is also absurd. Where is Mahama's vindication in the decision of the government to review Free SHS. In the contrary, the government is being WISE. Is this not better than the DEAD-GOAT response? It is embarrassing when people with academic credentials like Apaak, PhD holder, talk loosely like this. All you are praying and wishing for is the failure of the NPP government and believing that will brighten your chances of coming back to power. How absurd? Unfortunately it is not as simple as that. The Ghanaian voter is more analytical and discerning and so you guys should stop rejoicing over our current economic circumstances with the view that it translates automatically into political fortunes for you and your legendary incompetent and loose moral leader. Some of us are disappointed in President Akufo-Addo not because we think he's than worse than Mahama but it is because we had higher expectations of him. The global situation facing the government of today did not exist in Mahama's time yet look at the troubles you put as through economically. NO COVID pandemic nor the current surge in the prices of crude oil resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Yet you guys will not bow you heads in shame but shouting and rejoicing over our suffering. We will punish you for this insensitivity rather than rewarding such wicked attitude.
Mahama is still incompetent even in opposition. such a quark group of people.
Apaak, what do you understand by "Review"? No wonder @Kwabena is asking you to read well. Review does not mean going by it stage by stage. It calls for improvement - looking at where the shortfalls are and fixing them.
Apaak Dr, did you read well? little wonder the Vice-President says you and your base and ***barred word*** NDC do not read well. You could not make ends meet in Canada and run to parliament from the north where you had easy ride. No one in the south or middle belt would have voted for you because you have no accomplishment save for your election to parliament. Read well.