Wife of the Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, has stated that the Free Senior High School education spearheaded by her husband “is no lie because it is something that is dear to his (Nana Akufo-Addo) heart.” President John Mahama on Tuesday, shot down the signature policy proposal of the NPP flabearer; the free SHS education.
In an address to mark the traditional 40th day celebration of the passing away of President John Evans Atta Mills, President Mahama, who also outlined the policy direction of Government three months prior to the 2012 elections, stressed that the clarion call must not be for a free education as the NPP his been preaching, but rather what is most 'practical and pragmatic' regarding how to scale over the challenges in the educational sector. “Modalities of expressing this shared national vision of free education must first ensure that we improve efficiencies and grant access to those who are in need to move from basic to secondary and to tertiary and improving standards at the basic level and the secondary and tertiary level.” “Our argument should not be about free secondary education,” he stated adding, the framers of the constitution were well aware of the cost constraints in implementing a free education, a reason why they called for a progressively free education to the SHS and tertiary levels. “What our discussion should be is what is most practical and pragmatic at this stage of our national development and with the resources available to us,” President Mahama said.
But in what can best be described as a direct rebuttal, wife of the NPP flagbearer, Rebecca Akufo-Addo said the pessimists who are questioning the viability of her husband’s proposed free education policy, are the same people who questioned the NHIS policy of the NPP. She noted that a vote for her husband, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is a vote for a revived NHIS, free quality and accessible education for every Ghanaian child up to senior high school, improved skills training and jobs after their education.
According to Mrs. Akufo-Addo, the transformational agenda of the NPP for 2013 and beyond is aimed at improving the environment for traders and all persons especially Ghanaians interested in doing legitimate business. She said this whilst interacting with the "Ye w) Chance" women group of Kaneshie as part of her interaction with women groups in the Greater Accra Region. Mrs. Akufo-Addo urged the women to play a more active role in this year’s election by spreading the good news in the NPP manifesto and what the party achieved during Former President Kufuor’s reign. She noted that as women form more than fifty percent of Ghana’s population, all women who have the chance to vote in this year's general election should stand up and be counted, especially because women have become great economic contributors to their families.
Madam Otiko Afisa Djaba, the NPP’s National Women Organizer, on her part, called on women to be bold to push forward with their convictions. “I believe that this year is Nana Akufo-Addo’s year,” she said. The time, she said, has come for women in the country to rise up and push Nana Addo up, for the country to benefit from his dream and vision. “Nana Addo’s ideas are unique; we must sell him well to all Ghanaians.” Madam Djaba entreated the women to critically assess their living conditions and vote this year. Other members of her delegation included the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Okaikoi South - Ahmed Arthur, Former Minister of Information - Oboshie Sai Coffie, 1st Vice Chairperson of the NPP in Greater Accra, Mrs Gladys Mann- Dedey.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
