Former National Chair of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Peter Mac Manu, has alleged that former President John Dramani Mahama and National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, employed various tactics to obstruct the implementation of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) program.
In an interview with TV3, Mac Manu claimed that the NDC organized multiple demonstrations aimed at derailing the NPP’s policy.
He further stated that the NDC ultimately took their grievances to the Supreme Court in an effort to block the program.
According to him, he has documentation to support his claims.
“I have evidence of him and his General Secretary, people, speaking, making demonstrations, and going to the extent of even going to the Supreme Court to stop the Free SHS from being implemented. I will not admit that Mahama initiated the Free SHS program,” he added.
The Free SHS initiative, a cornerstone policy of the NPP, was launched by President Akufo-Addo in 2017, aiming to provide free secondary education to all Ghanaian students.
The policy has been a significant point of political contention, with various parties debating its feasibility and impact.
While many Ghanaians have benefited from the policy, challenges such as funding, infrastructure, and educational quality continue to be areas of concern.
Meanwhile, in a media engagement on July 7, 2024, Mahama refuted claims that he opposed the Free SHS program.
He asserted that as the originator of the progressive Free SHS initiative, he has always supported efforts to enhance its benefits.
“I support any bill that will improve our education to make it sustainable, to afford quality education for our children. So yes, any bill that would achieve this is something that I will support,” Mahama stated.
But president Akufo-Addo has dismissed former President John Dramani Mahama’s claim that he initiated the free Senior High School (SHS) policy, labeling it as “ridiculous.”
He highlighted previous criticisms from the NDC leadership regarding the policy’s feasibility.
Speaking at the official unveiling of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer’s running mate for the 2024 elections in Kumasi on July 9, 2024, Akufo-Addo asserted that the NDC is not a credible alternative for Ghanaians.
“Today, the free Senior High School, the same people that criticized it and said all sorts of things about it, are claiming that they implemented it. We will take it like that,” Akufo-Addo said.
“We will take it like that because as God is alive, He is not asleep.”
Akufo-Addo criticized Mahama for what he sees as a reversal on the policy.
“This leader criticized us when we said we were going to implement the Free SHS policy. Now that Ghanaians have accepted the policy, he is saying he is the one who introduced Free SHS. Have you ever heard such a thing?”
He continued, “He indeed said that we are forgetful people. Will we forget this too? Today, the leader of the NDC claims he is the one who introduced Free SHS.
“If he introduced the policy, why did he criticize us when we intended to introduce it? He said if he had 2 billion cedis, he would not invest it in free education.”
I have evidence @JDMahama and Asiedu Nketia went to the Supreme Court to object implementation of Free SHS. He didn't start it – Peter Mac Manu, Former NPP National Chairman#HotIssues #3NewsGH pic.twitter.com/KNcRFNMM4O
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) July 14, 2024