Free SHS: Arrest irresponsible parents – Group

The Network for Assin Development has called on the government to arrest parents who deny their wards the opportunity to go to school as the government begins the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme this academic year.

The Network said they believe that education is the key to success and therefore entreated every parent to take advantage the Free SHS initiative “since it is a laudable initiative to help our wards in the area”.

The Network, in a statement, said the Free SHS policy should not be seen as politics, but a policy to help with the development of every Ghanaian child therefore “any parent who denies his/her ward of going to school should be arrested and face legal action since they are infringing on rights of the children”.

The Network further called on the traditional and opinion leaders in Assin land to, as a matter of urgency, endeavour to release lands to the government in order to facilitate the One-District, One-Factory project because “it will go a long way to create jobs for youth in the area”.

According to the Network, 70 to 80 per cent of the youth in the area are unemployed which has resulted in “abject poverty in the area”.

The Network, therefore, called on Members of Parliament, the District Chief Executive, and other prominent personalities such as John Boadu, the Acting General Secretary of NPP, and Prof Dominick, to team up to bring development to Assin land.

The Network cautioned that, if unemployment is not solved in the area “a year to come, the criminal activities will increase”. They also called on the youth to take advantage of the One-District, One-Factory project when it commences in the area in order to promote development.