In a significant engagement ahead of the 2024 elections, John Mahama, the Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), held a pivotal conversation with media practitioners at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel on Sunday, July 7.
This event, dubbed the “Mahama Conversation,” provided a platform for the NDC presidential candidate to articulate his vision for the future of Ghana.
Mahama’s speech focused on the much-debated Free Senior High School (Free SHS) Bill, among other pressing national issues.
Mahama addressed the uncertainty surrounding the Free SHS Bill, which has been the subject of various rumors.
“We would want to see the bill, and I’m sure that when the cabinet has approved it, it will be laid in Parliament,” he stated.
He emphasized the importance of proper stakeholder consultation once the bill is referred to the appropriate parliamentary committee.
“If you’re making fundamental changes, it’s crucial to involve all stakeholders to understand the impact fully,” Mahama noted.
The former president expressed his concern over the lack of clarity and the speculative nature of the discussions about the bill.
“As long as we haven’t seen the bill, we cannot say if the rumors are authentic or not,” he said. He highlighted the need for transparency and thorough evaluation, particularly considering the potential impacts on teachers and students.
Reaffirming his stance on the Free SHS policy, Mahama recalled his administration’s efforts to make education accessible.
“We made it free for day students, absorbing 100,000 students under the Free SHS,” he mentioned, adding that international bodies like UNESCO had recognized his contributions.
“Free SHS has come to stay, and nobody can roll it back,” Mahama declared, criticizing political opponents for spreading misinformation about his position.
Mahama concluded by calling for improvements in the Free SHS implementation.
“All we are saying is let’s improve the implementation. Let’s work to abolish the bottlenecks and ensure better provision for the students,” he urged.
He stressed the need for a collaborative approach to enhance the system, emphasizing that political gimmicks should not derail the progress made in education.
His speech resonated with the need for stakeholder engagement and practical improvements to sustain and enhance the Free SHS program, ensuring it benefits all Ghanaian students effectively.
