Disentangling propaganda from reality in Ghana’s educational landscape under the NDC's regime

Reflecting the time of Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as the Education Minister, the issue of chalk shortages during the tenure of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been a subject of mere propaganda orchestrated by the squealers of the NPP.

Accusations and counter-accusations have been hurled, with blame often directed at the former minister. However, a closer examination reveals a more nuanced picture, one that transcends political rhetoric and seeks to manipulate and control Ghanaians to maintain the NPP's power.

During the NDC regime, efforts were made to address most educational challenges inherited through policy interventions and infrastructure development initiatives. While progress was made in certain areas, such as expanding access to education and improving facilities, the NPP persistently twisted the truth to fit their self-seeking agenda, portraying their actions as competence.

Deputy Education Minister, John Ntim Fordjour, disclosed in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, “Dwaso Nsem,” dated Tuesday, February 15, 2022, that some heads of schools have complained bitterly about the short supply of chalk, teachers’ notebooks, textbooks, and other teaching and leading materials.

He said, “The head teachers take their supply from the district and regional offices, and no one has complained of a shortage”.

This, he said, is because no report of shortage from district or regional education directors has been reported to the Ministry. The reverend deputy minister’s reaction is NOT different from what the former minister articulated in a video circulating during media engagement.

It is crucial to recognize that the Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, hinted on April 25, 2024, of a change in the outlook of basic schools in the country.

Reported by TV3 Ghana, the minister said, “We are switching to blue and white. We are painting all the schools to give them an attractive outlook. This is the transformation Ghana deserves, and it is coming.”

"The yellow and brown that you see now, you will see no more," he added.

The NPP is known for propagating misinformation and perpetuating divisiveness. Instead of solving the mess created in the educational system, they prefer to engage in partisan finger-pointing.

The NPP is busily promoting ethnocentric elitism masquerading as intellectualism; nepotism cloaked as know-how; weakness strutting as courage; crony capitalism masked as development in freedom; and shameless hypocrisy acting as objectivity. These never served a country determined to make progress at any level.

The words of Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang in her acceptance speech at UPSA on April 24, 2024. By demystifying propaganda and focusing on collaborative solutions, Ghana can move towards a more equitable and inclusive educational system that empowers every child to fulfill their potential.

Let us transcend political divides and work together towards building a brighter future for Ghana’s youth.