The 2nd Deputy Chief Whip for the Minority in the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah, has strongly refuted the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) claims that they initiated the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy.
Cudjoe-Ghansah, also the Member of Parliament for Ada Constituency and former Minister of State voiced strong support for the Progressive Free SHS program initiated under the Mahama administration
During an interview on Hot FM’s Dwene Ho Biom on July 19, she noted her involvement in the final stages of the free Senior High School (SHS) initiative under the leadership of former President Mahama.
“I was the last person to contribute to the free SHS initiative during Mahama’s tenure. The Progressive Free SHS program was designed to ensure equal access to education by providing holistic support, including school materials.”
Cudjoe-Ghansah reiterated this sentiment, saying, “In 2014/15, when Mahama wanted to start the Free SHS, there were discussions about whether the budget could support the policy.
But, I told the president, ‘This (Free SHS) is a baby in your womb, and you must give birth to it. Nobody thinks about what the baby will eat before giving birth; God takes care of that.'”
The former Minister depicted that Mahama’s approach was to implement the Free SHS program in phases, starting with day students and eventually including boarders once the initial phase proved successful.
She firmly refuted claims that the Free SHS program would be abolished, stating, “Free SHS is enshrined in our cabinet decisions and is here to stay.”
Criticizing the current government’s policies, Cudjoe-Ghansah noted that the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) focus should not only be on classroom education but also on the overall welfare of students, including food and other necessities.
She highlighted the importance of the e-block initiative, which aimed to bring educational facilities closer to students’ communities, prioritizing day students.
In a pointed critique, Cudjoe-Ghansah accused the NPP of appropriating and rebranding the NDC’s initiatives, specifically mentioning the laptop distribution program.
“The NDC was providing laptops to students who applied for them. Now, the NPP has rebranded this initiative as their ‘one student, one tablet’ policy,” she remarked.
In conclusion, Cudjoe-Ghansah asserted, “The NPP does not know how to lay a solid foundation, which is why they always end up continuing projects started by others.”
She stressed the importance of building a strong foundation to ensure the success and sustainability of educational programs.
