Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin
Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has warned that any attempt by the National Democratic Congress to oppose the Free SHS Bill will not be tolerated.
Just like some previous Bills which were passed despite stiff opposition, the lawmaker said the majority in parliament will ensure that the Free SHS Bill is passed at all cost.
Afenyo-Markin made this known in an interview on Onua FM’s ‘Yen Nsempa’ on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, following remarks made by the Ranking Member on the education committee, Nortsue-Kotoe.
Nortsue-Kotoe is reported by 3news.com to have said the NPP government’s claim about prioritising the country’s education is unfounded.
He opined that a government owing money to school uniform suppliers cannot pride itself on prioritising education.
“As we speak now, the government owes monies to those who supplied school uniforms two to three years ago to senior high school students. They owe monies to people who supplied textbooks and furniture to senior high schools. So, what are they trying to say?” he questioned.
However, Afenyo-Markin reiterated that the bill will surely be passed, even if it means forcing it on the minority.
“The ranking member on the education committee, Nortsue-Kotoe, said they will not support the bill, so it is fair to say that the NDC does not support the Free SHS Bill,” Afenyo-Markin stated.
He added, “There is no fear of anything. We only want to enact the law to bind all of us and build a new national psyche that free SHS is not negotiable. No matter how the NDC opposes it, we will force it on them.”
The Free SHS Bill, if passed into law, would ensure that the Free SHS policy remains binding on successive governments, preventing any future administration from discontinuing it.
NAG/ADG
