Akufo-Addo stole my ‘Free SHS Education’ policy - Akua Donkor

The Founder and leader of Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), Akua Donkor has labeled the 2012 Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as a “thief”.

According to her, the 'Free SHS Education' policy which some NPP members including their 2012 flagbearer have claimed ownership of was exclusively introduced by her though she did not get the nod from the Electoral Commission (EC) to pursue that dream as a presidential candidate in the 2012 polls.

Stressing on her policy, she said the 'Free SHS Education' was boldly written on her posters during the 2012 election campaign and everyone saw it, but because she did not meet the requirements of the EC, it was stolen.

“Akufo-Addo was thrilled with my campaign message and knew it was well accepted by Ghanaians, so he opted for it when I was disqualified,” she said.

“I personally told him I will sue him for that because I owned that, he stole my policy, he is a thief,” she added.

The free SHS policy, a catchphrase trumpeted by the NPP in 2008 which was restructured for the 2012 elections, was fiercely resisted by the NDC who argued that more emphasis be placed on quality and access rather than making it free.

To recall, President Mahama wrote on his official twitter and Facebook accounts in 2012 that, “Free SHS is a misplaced priority if primary school pupils still pay fees. Let's make primary free first”.

However, President Mahama delivering his State of the Nation Address to Parliament on Tuesday February 25, 2014, announced the abolishing of fees in Day Senior High Schools by 2015/2016 academic year and the subsequent introduction of a progressively free SHS.

But the announcement has been met with mixed reactions with the NPP accusing the Mahama-led administration of ‘stealing’ its idea, an allegation the government has vehemently denied.

But speaking on Adom FM, Friday, Madam Akua Donkor noted that, the NPP led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2012 had an All Die Be Die message.

“He (Nana Addo) was campaigning for All Die Be Die and I stood for free education, why must he steal my policy? I advised Mahama to think about the free education which is laudable. I am processing documents and will sue Nana Addo,” she said.