Alexander Segbefia, former Minister of Health under the erstwhile NDC administration, has emphasized the need for a thorough review of the government’s Free SHS policy, highlighting the importance of evaluating its effectiveness and identifying areas for improvement.
According to Segbefia, although the Free SHS policy is a well-intentioned social initiative, it requires a thorough evaluation to assess its efficacy and identify areas for improvement.
Segbefia criticized the governing New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) proposed Free SHS Bill, arguing that it seeks to entrench the policy without adequately addressing its inherent challenges and shortcomings.
“The Free SHS policy should be reviewable. So if the NPP is bringing a Free SHS Bill that will be looking at these issues and addressing them, which a policy document can do anyway, then it makes sense. But it seems the Bill is to protect the Free SHS policy which makes no sense. And that is where the NDC or minority has a problem”.
Alexander Segbefia
Segbefia further alleged that the NPP is exploiting the popularity of the Free SHS policy to score political points, rather than genuinely addressing the concerns surrounding its implementation.
According to Segbefia, the government is engaging in a misinformation campaign, wrongly suggesting that critics of the Bill are opposed to the principle of Free SHS when their concerns are aimed at refining the policy’s execution.
“Nobody has ever said that the Free SHS is a bad thing. As for the review, it is necessary and even the IMF has made it part of the program that government should look at the Free SHS policy. Nobody has said scrap, review is review”.
Alexander Segbefia
Segbefia reminded that it was Ken Ofori-Atta, a former Finance Minister and member of the NPP, who initially suggested revising the Free SHS policy to focus on those who truly require financial assistance, rather than maintaining its universal applicability.
“He [Ken Ofori-Atta] looked at the books and made it abundantly clear that it is not in the country’s interest that there is no payment scheme that can help the course”. – Alexander Segbefia
Minority To Push For Secure Funding For Free SHS
Meanwhile, the Minority Caucus in Parliament declared its intention to advocate for a secure and reliable funding mechanism for the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, which is to be included in the government’s upcoming legislative proposal.
This development comes on the heels of an announcement by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin on Tuesday, June 11, revealing the government’s intention to introduce legislation aimed at entrenching the Free SHS policy.
Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Education Committee, assured that the Minority will rigorously scrutinize the bill once it is presented in the House, leaving no stone unturned.
Nortsu-Kotoe stressed the need to ensure that the bill’s provisions are crafted in a way that secures the sustainability and impact of the Free SHS policy for the long haul.
“Is there going to be any dedicated funding for the free SHS? I will demand that, and that will be my first preoccupation. Because you just don’t come and bring a bill, and then the bill says that no government should change anything about the Free SHS. You cannot do that. Only the constitution can make entrenched provisions, but not an act of Parliament, so we will look at all those things when the bill is presented.”
Peter Nortsu-Kotoe
Nortsu-Kotoe echoed Segbefia’s sentiments, accusing the government of exploiting the Free SHS policy as a political weapon to discredit the NDC, rather than genuinely prioritizing the policy’s success.
However, Nortsu-Kotoe confidently declared that the government’s tactic will ultimately fail, as the Minority will thoroughly scrutinize and investigate the bill when it is presented in Parliament, exposing any hidden agendas or flaws.
“You have six months to leave office, then you are coming to give it [Free SHS] legal backing to tie the hands of any government that will succeed you”. – Peter Nortsu-Kotoe
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