NDC will not toy with educational policies - President Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama stated on Monday that the National Democratic Congress government would never toy with the country's educational policies as that is crucial to the growth and development of the youth.

He said dealing with educational issues needed expertise and adequate professional handling rather than adhoc promulgation and implementation. President Mahama stated this when he addressed students of the Wa Campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS) at Wa as part of his three-day campaign tour of the Upper West Region.


The statement was in reaction to some of the policies various political opponents had promised in their on-going 2012 electioneering campaigns. “We do not need to be rushing educational policies just because we want to win elections, but such policies should be backed by concrete logistics that will ensure effective execution”, President Mahama said.


He said the NDC government had over the years been instrumental in the provision of social facilities, including education as evidenced by the establishment of the University for Development Studies, University of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa, University of Education in Winneba and many other campuses throughout the country.


The President said the NDC under former President Jerry John Rawlings also established seven Polytechnics that had over the years helped in producing technical and vocational professionals in various fields.


On development projects in the University for Development Studies, President Mahama promised that his administration would increase lecture theatres, hostel accommodation and library facilities that would bring the students and staff closer.

“This system, where most of you are living in private homes and attending lectures is not the best environment for learning and developing your skills, and the provision of such facilities will make the learning environment more congenial”, President Mahama added.


He said government was also advancing plans to make all the campuses autonomous and tasked the management of the campuses to work hard to enable them to create more faculties that would provide them the opportunity to achieve that target.


He tasked Joe Gidisu, Minister for Roads and Highways to support the school to map out the roads on campus and provide the necessary support to tar them for students to enjoy safety and security on campus.


Professor Francis Bachuu, Dean of students of the Wa Campus of the University appealed to government to provide the institution with more infrastructure that would befit the status of a university.