Member of Parliament (MP) for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, George Mireku Duker says the Majority caucus in Parliament deserves a rapturous applause for disapproving a motion by Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga.
Hon. Mahama Ayariga moved a motion before the august House requesting President Nana Akufo-Addo to to absorb fees of students in public tertiary institutions.
He also wanted the President to extend support to accredited Private Tertiary Institutions as part of the national COVID-19 measures implemented by the President.
He stated the approval of the motion and its subsequent implementation will relieve students and parents of the economic hardships but the motion was turned down by the Majority caucus.
A member of the Majority caucus, the MP for Ofoase/Ayirebi and Information Minister, Hon Kojo Oppong Nkrumah cited reasons that the motion lacked clarity and was also discriminatory against students in private tertiary institutions.
He further argued that the intent of the motion is illegal and doesn't conform to best practices.
The motion was thrown out when Speaker Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin put the question on it.
Contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Hon. Mireku Duker believed former President John Dramani Mahama is the architect behind Hon. Ayariga's motion in Parliament.
He strongly held that the former President set Hon. Ayariga to put such a motion before the House for mischief purposes but the Majority acted in good faith and in the interest of Ghanaians.
''It's hypocrisy. It wasn't with a good mind that Mr. Mahama moved the motion'', he said stressing that the government has already absorbed about 70% of the students' fees ensuring it's affordable to pay.
''The step we took in Parliament was taken in good faith. We think about Ghanaians'', he told host Nana Yaw Kesseh.
''Let's allow the government to run smoothly. We should allow the institutions to do their job correctly. Our manifesto, the contract we have with Ghanaians, Ghanaians will judge us by our own contract they signed with us'', Hon. Mireku Duker advised.
He also called on Ghanaians to commend the President for implementing his free SHS programme saying it's not easy to pay school fees but the government has however absorbed the fees of all students in Senior High Schools.
''If the government is paying your child's fees, that government deserves your praise because it's not easy. Paying school fees is not easy and we need to appreciate what the President has done.''
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