Free SHS is here to stay, why were you silent during the NPP era? – Dormaahene asks Asantehene

 

Dormaahene and President of Bono Regional House of Chiefs, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II has reacted to Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II suggestion that the Free SHS policy should be reviewed or canceled if the students can not be accommodated or fed.

Speaking at Manhyia Palace during a visit by Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, Asantehene stated that if the students can not be fed properly and accommodated then the free SHS is not necessary. Adding that if the government needs to cancel the policy or review it for people who can pay for their children school fees to pay it is better.

But reacting to this, Dormaahene disagreed with the Asante Monarch.

According to the Bono Regional House of Chiefs President, free SHS has come to stay and so cancelation or reviewing is not necessary.

He suggested that if the government needs to add some tax for Ghanaians to support the funding of the policy the government should do that rather than canceling or reviewing it.

Dormaahene believes that the policy is good to promote education.

“I heard him saying free SHS must be reviewed or canceled, we will not cancel it. It has come to stay, the government has improved it and even if the government doesn’t have funds, he should tax us, we will pay for the government to get resources to maintain the free SHS programme.” He stated.

Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II also lamented why prominent people like Otumfuo were silent on the free SHS issue during the regime of the NPP government when all these challenges existed.

He said Ghanaians were eager to hear him addressing those challenges but he decided to keep mute. Dormaahene questioned why Asantehene is sadly voicing out these concerns after the change of government.

“What Ghanaians were expecting him (Asantehene) to say at the time the previous government was ruling he didn’t say but now he has voiced out.” He added.

Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated that free SHS has come to stay contrary to what the NPP were saying that he will cancel the policy when he wins the elections.

Source: Elvisanokyenews.net