In a chastising critique, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, the Member of Parliament for Builsa South and Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament, has urged Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia (DMB) to withdraw what he called a “fraudulent” advertisement.
The ad in question, circulating widely, claims that over 5 million students have benefited from the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy between 2017 and 2024. Dr Apaak challenged the truthfulness of this claim and demanded an apology to Ghanaians for what he described as a “blatant lie.”
Dr. Apaak’s critique is based on a thorough analysis supported by Fact-Check Ghana, an independent verification body, asserting that the research reveals that the claim of 5 million beneficiaries is both inflated and inaccurate when cross-checked with official enrollment data.
“Using enrollment figures reported by the government through the Ministry of Finance, Fact-Check Ghana has established that the total number of students enrolled from 2017-2024 is 3,135,754, way less than the concocted 5,000,000″.
Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, MP, Builsa South
“DMB must immediately remove his fraudulent advert,” Dr. Apaak insisted. He stressed that exaggerating the FSHS policy’s impact distorts the reality of its accomplishments and misleads the public.
According to Dr. Apaak, this breach of integrity is unacceptable for anyone in a leadership role. He reiterated, “Such blatant lies must be condemned.”
FSHS Statistics by the West Africa Examination Council
To underscore the gap, Dr Apaak, who is also the Spokesperson for the National Democratic Congress 2024 Manifesto Committee on Education pointed to additional analysis using statistics from the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) provided by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
He noted since 2020, when the first FSHS students took the WASSCE, the number of candidates has been below 2.5 million. This number according to him, indicates that not all enrolled students finish secondary school or take the WASSCE, highlighting a significant discrepancy between enrollment figures and completion rates.
Integrity Matters: The Call for Accountability
Dr. Apaak’s statement went beyond exposing numerical discrepancies; it is a broader call for accountability and transparency from Ghana’s political leaders. He argued that leadership must be grounded in truth, especially when addressing public programs that affect millions.
“Ghanaians deserve leaders with integrity, not leaders who avoid the truth,” Dr. Apaak asserted. The statement brings attention to the quality of public discourse about government policies and achievements.
He emphasized that overstated figures or misleading statements not only damage public trust but also diminish the genuine progress achieved through the FSHS initiative.
Dr. Apaak’s call for a public retraction and apology from Dr Bawumia underscores the urgency for political leaders to adhere to higher standards of truthfulness.
This issue not only pertains to the FSHS program but also speaks to the broader principle of transparent governance.
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