Stop lying, I’m not against Free SHS – Mahama tells Bawumia

Former President John Mahama has described as untrue claims by Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia that he is opposed to government’s Free SHS policy.

He accused Dr. Bawumia of deliberately trying to court public disaffection for him in relation to the free SHS policy.

In a statement, Mr. Mahama’s office said: “We have noted yet another propaganda churned out by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to the effect that HE John Dramani Mahama, the Flagbearer and Leader of the NDC, is against free Senior High School (SHS) education.

This is false!

“Dr. Bawumia knows very well, in his heart, that he is not telling the truth and for that matter he is misrepresenting the views of the former President.

“Mr. Mahama has never been against free SHS; and nowhere has he ever said free SHS is a bad policy. Certainly, the President who implemented Progressively Free SHS for over 350,000 students cannot be said to be against free SHS. We challenge Dr. Bawumia to provide evidence of the former President ever saying he is against free SHS.

“Mr Mahama , just like all well-meaning Ghanaians, believes free SHS must be made better instead of the ad-hoc implementation we are witnessing under the Akufo-Addo administration”.

The statement emphasized “For example, presently the ‘Double Track System’, which keeps some students at home while others are in school studying remains a major worry to students, parents and many Ghanaians who care about the future of the youth of Ghana.

“In addition, the fate of SHS students when they graduate remains a major concern to many Ghanaians including students, parents, lecturers, Vice Chancellors among others.

Even President Akufo-Addo, himself, has admitted to the “challenges” and has only asked Ghanaians to see beyond the “challenges” because every programme has “challenges”. Over and above the President, the Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta has also had cause to speak to the challenges of the programme.

“Will Dr. Bawumia by any stretch of his imagination, suggest that both President A k u fo- Addo and Mr. Ken Ofo ri Att a are “ kicking against” the free SHS programme?

For emphasis, nowhere has former President Mahama ever said he will abandon the free SHS programme”.