The Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has urged the Minority to clarify its position on the proposed Free SHS Bill, alleging inconsistency on their part.
According to him, it has come to the attention of the Majority that the Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament, Peter Kwasi Nortsu-Kotoe, who is the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Akatsi North, strongly opposes the proposed Free SHS Bill.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin stated at a press briefing in Parliament that the NDC Minority did not appear to be committed to the Free SHS policy.
“Clearly the NDC Minority does not want to commit itself to Free SHS and the fact that we want to enact a law to make it mandatory,” he asserted.
The argument that the national constitution has provisions for Free SHS is invalid, according to the Majority Leader, because those provisions are only aspirations that must be fulfilled by the government.
“We have stated time without number that those provisions in the constitution that talk about Free SHS are very aspirational. They are aspirational provisions so the way to go is to enact a law to regulate the Free SHS policy which is currently in operation,” he explained.
“The NDC is opposed to this and they have spoken through their Ranking Member,” Mr. Afenyo-Markin noted.
“We want them to tell Ghanaians whether Free SHS is not their priority as a responsible opposition,” he posited.
He revealed that the draft bill had obtained executive approval, and that the Minister of Education will carry it through Parliament.
“We are ready and that is why as part of the engagement process we engage them, but they are adamant. The NDC is not ready for the Free SHS Bill,” he insisted.
“It’s clear and their Spokesperson on Education has been very loud. The last time I tried to tease a matter out on the floor he avoided a response. He stayed clear of it and he was not ready to commit himself,” Mr. Afenyo-Markin said.
He added, “So we know that in Parliament the caucus speaks through its spokesperson and he is the Ranking Member on Education. He is the NDC Spokesperson on Education. That’s a member of Akatsi North.”
“And he says he’s opposed to the Free SHS Bill because there’s some provision in the constitution. They should tell us why they are opposed to the bill,” he intimated.
Source: Daily Guide
