The Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) members of Parliament have challenged the ruling Majority leader Alexander Afenyo-Mrkin and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to present the proposed Free Senior High School (SHS) Bill to Parliament.
The Caucus expressed frustration over the continuous speculations surrounding the bill and the attempt by the Majority leader to create bad blood between Ghanaians and the NDC.
Responding to claims by the Majority leader on Wednesday, June 26 that the NDC Caucus is not committed to Free SHS, Minority leader Cassiel Ato Forson stated that the ruling NPP is drowning in a sea of confusion and fear.
The Minority questioned how long a bill will take to reach Parliament from the presidency or the Ministry of Education if such a bill is ready.
He said, “How long would this bill take from Flagstaff House to Parliament? Six months, seven years? If it’s coming from the Ministry of Education, it is even closer. How long should it take to move from the Ministry of Education to the Parliament House?
He emphasized the NDC’s readiness to support a bill that genuinely seeks to improve the quality of education and address the lapses observed in the current implementation of the Free SHS program.
He stressed that it was under the NDC’s administration that the propounded free education policy when it included it in the 1992 Constitution and added, “It is the NDC that started the Free Senior High School policy under President John Mahama in 2015.”
“Let me put on record that the NDC minority members of Parliament, of which I am a part, will support a Free SHS bill that aims to improve the quality of education and fix the lapses we have seen in its implementation.”
“We have not said anywhere that the NDC is opposed to a Free SHS bill, which is not even in Parliament,” he clarified.
Ato Forson accused the NPP of creating unnecessary tension because of its desperation and suggesting that the NDC is against a bill that has not even been presented to Parliament.
He said, “I see desperation on the part of the NPP. Rather, they should bring the bill and let the people of Ghana see what is in the bill for all of us to debate the details.”
“We challenge you. We give you one week; bring the bill before us. Let them present the bill before us tomorrow, so we can see the content.”