Vice Presidential Candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has claimed that the NPP government under the visionary leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has done more to better the lot of teachers than any government in the Fourth Republic.
He made this statement when he took his campaign tour to the Abuakwa South Constituency in the Eastern Region.
Addressing the chiefs, clergy, Muslims and party members in Asiakwa, he said it is in recognition of this fact that teacher motivation and welfare are at the heart of the government’s educational policies and interventions.
He noted that the constituents of Abuakwa South have clearly shown, with great enthusiasm and energy, their satisfaction with the work of their very own, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Based on this, they will vote massively for Dr. Mahamudu.
NAPO said the government recognizes that the teacher is the fulcrum around which quality education is delivered, and therefore every serious conversation about quality education must be held with the teacher at the centre of affairs.
He used the event to mention some of the teacher-related interventions and other laudable policies implemented by the NPP government to advance the cause of Ghanaian teachers and enhance their livelihoods.
On teacher training, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, mentioned among other things, the full restoration of teacher trainee allowance; restoration of the Book and Research allowance; restoration of the allowance of Arabic instructors; prompt payment of feeding grants for teacher trainees; upgrading of Teacher Training Colleges from ‘Cert A’ awarding institutions into Diploma and later, into Degree awarding institutions.
He mentioned the inconsistent positions of John Mahama on the Teacher Licensure Exams, which his government introduced in 2016; John Mahama’s inconsistent positions on teacher trainee allowance which he cancelled and now claims he will restore if voted for.
This shortfall, he said, reflects the NDC’s inability to deliver on its commitments and raise the standard of education in Ghana.
He appealed to Ghanaians to consider the track record of the NPP in managing the education sector, suggesting that the party is better equipped to bring about the necessary changes and improvements.
NAPO also mentioned “John Mahama’s inconsistent positions on the Free SHS policy, where in one breath, he says Free SHS was not feasible and that it would collapse Ghana’s educational system, yet in another breath, he comes to say that he [John Mahama] introduced Free SHS.”
He also took the opportunity to make a modest donation to the Save Our Soul (SOS) International School.