Chief Endorses Nana Addo's Free SHS

A CHIEF in the Ahafo Ano South district of the Ashanti Region has given his full backing to the flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo�s free Senior High School policy. Nana Subin Kankam Amaado II, Chief of Abesewa, says the policy is a laudable one which must be supported by all well meaning Ghanaians who are committed to the development of the country. The Chief, who made the statement during a mini durbar organized to welcome the flagbearer of the opposition on his ten day tour to the Ashanti region, expressed surprise that a section of the Ghanaian population, especially the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), were vehemently opposed to the policy. �The issue is not about doing partisan politics, it is about the lives of the people and particularly our youth, because they need to be educated so that they contribute meaningfully to the development of the country. According to the Chief, he and his people were in full support of the policy, which he said would improve Ghana�s human resource capacity and, therefore, urged voters, come December 7, to give Nana Addo the opportunity to implement the programme. Nana Subin Kankam contended that there is no justification in the position taken by the NDC, stressing that the policy is highly feasible if any government will judiciously utilize resources at its disposal. �I do not know why the NDC is opposed to this policy; why, if we say that education is key to the development of every Ghanaian, then I think that Nana Addo�s policy is in the right direction and must be supported,� he emphasized. The Chief further noted that it would be a high form of wickedness and hypocrisy for the NDC to oppose the free SHS, when most officials currently in government had benefited from a similar privilege in the past. He contended that if similar policy had been made in the past to cater for people in the three northern regions, he did not see why it cannot be made a national policy with the numerous resources at our disposal. �Maybe if some of us had gotten access to such free education, we will not be where we are today; I am urging everyone to put politics aside and critically consider the matter and make his or her own decision,� he noted. The NPP flagbearer on his part said he would not indulge in politics of vague promises, adding that he was fully committed to ensuring the implementation of the policy when elected into power. He described the ruling party and particularly, President John Mahama, as being selfish and insensitive to the plight of Ghanaians. �President Mahama in his own book admits he benefitted from free education even at a time when his parents could afford to cater for his education, he told us his father had to transfer him from Achimota school to Tamale Secondary just to enjoy Nkrumah�s free senior high school policy, so if today he says that the policy is not good, then Ghanaians must question his credibility,� Nana Addo pointed out. Nana Addo said President John Mahama and his vice presidential nominee could not be trusted with the management of the economy of this country because they were the same people under whose watch the local currency suffered the worst depreciation in the country�s history. He reiterated his commitment towards moving Ghana�s economy from producers of mere raw materials to an industrialized one that will ensure creation of jobs for the youth. The NPP flagbearer further pledged to better the lots of farmers in the area through regular payment of bonuses and other incentives need to make life comfortable for them. The NPP flagbearer earlier visited places like Mpasaaso, Wioso, Ahwerewam, Adugyama, Sabronum and Mankranso where he received mammoth welcome from teeming supporters.