A survey conducted by Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the third State of the Nation’s address by President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday was characterised by mixed reaction from students of Accra Polytechnic.
Some of the students expressed satisfaction with the address which touched on education with reference to free exercise books, uniforms and an increase in the School Feeding Programme. They contended that these initiatives were key to national development since the foundation of quality education starts from the basics.
Some were of the view that the decision of President Mills to establish a Fisheries College at the University of Cape Coast was a step in the right direction, since it would create job opportunities for the youth.
Some of the students called for a proactive programme for the youth since they constituted a greater percentage of the labour force.
In addition, President Mills proclamation of 2011 as Action Year should reflect in the living standards of the people and not mere rhetoric. Some lauded the infrastructural development in the country and appealed to the Government to facilitate on-going road construction to pave way for easy movement.
On fighting corruption and re-opening of investigations into cocaine issues, some of the students agreed with President Mills and expressed the hope cases would be tackled to their logical conclusion. While some of the students said re-opening of the issues would unravel the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the 77 parcels of cocaine and the quantity at the Police Headquarters, others disagreed, stating it would be waste of time and resources considering the processes involved.
Some of the students expressed scepticism and disappointment about the address saying President Mills failed to focus on the functions of the judiciary despite the perception that the justice system was geared towards favouring the affluent in the society at the expense of the vulnerable.
They appealed to President Mills to assure Ghanaians that justice would be delivered irrespective of the status of an individual the society. Some of the students suggested that in future President Mills address should be backed by action and geared towards realistic job creation for the youth and expressed disappointment about the National Youth Employment Programme.
There was the view that some of the beneficiaries had not been paid their allowances for sometime now and appealed to President Mills to come to the aid of the programme. Some of the students expressed concern about the manner by which the address had politicised the nation.
Source: GNA
