The Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has challenged the Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) to clarify their position regarding the proposed Free Senior High School (SHS) Bill.
He expressed concern about the NDC’s commitment to the Free SHS policy, stating that the party’s Ranking Member on Education has strongly expressed the side’s opposition to the bill.
“We have had the Ranking Member on Education, Peter Nortsu Kotoe strongly opposing the proposed Bill.”
“Clearly, the NDC Minority does not want to commit itself to Free SHS and the fact that we want to enact a law to make it mandatory,” he stated.
The Majority leader emphasized the importance of transitioning the aspirational provisions of the Constitution regarding free education into a binding law.
He said, “Those provisions in the Constitution that talk about free SHS are very aspirational. The way to go is to enact a law to regulate the Free SHS policy, which is currently in operation,” he added.
He disclosed that the Bill has received executive approval, and the Minister of Education is set to present it to Parliament but the NDC continues to resist it despite efforts to engage them.
“We are ready, and that is why, as part of the engagement process, we engaged them, but they are adamant. The NDC is not ready,” he said.
Afenyo-Markin criticized the Ranking Member on Education for evading the issue.
“The last time I tried to address the matter on the floor, he avoided a response. He was clearly reluctant to commit himself,” he stated.
The Majority leader challenged the NDC to tell Ghanaians why they are opposed to the bill and stressed that as a responsible opposition, they need to make their position clear.