Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, MP for South Builsa Constituency, has emphasized that John Dramani Mahama, the NDC flagbearer, deserves commendation for publicly calling out Dr. Mahammudu Bawumia regarding the urgent and pressing issue of the acute furniture shortage in public basic schools.
He highlighted the importance of addressing this matter to ensure that students have the necessary resources for effective learning and a conducive educational environment.
“As running mate to NADAA in the run-up to the 2016 election, DMB visited Kperisi primary school in the Upper West Region, among others, where students sat on the floor to learn.
“News clips and pictures of his visit to Kperisi showed DMB wearing white, squatting to talk to pupils sitting on the floor in a classroom in Kperisi primary school”.
Dr. Clement Abas Apaak
Dr. Apaak noted that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, in subsequent media interviews, pledged to donate furniture to Kperisi Primary School, acknowledging that the issue extended beyond a single location and was, in fact, widespread across the country.
During these interviews, Dr. Bawumia criticized the then-NDC government for its failure to take action and address the hardships faced by marginalized communities, particularly in public basic schools.
According to Dr. Apaak, the Vice President then argued that the lack of adequate furniture was a clear indication of the government’s neglect and a failure to provide essential resources for quality education.
Dr. Apaak highlighted that Dr. Bawumia’s remarks sought to hold the NDC accountable for what he described as a systemic failure to support vulnerable populations in the education sector.
The Builsa South MP further remarked that, ironically, eight years later, with Dr. Bawumia serving as Vice President and now the NPP’s flagbearer, the furniture situation in Ghana’s public basic schools has not improved but has actually worsened.
He emphasized that the problem has been exacerbated under the current administration, highlighting a significant gap between promises and action.
Over 1.3 Million Pupils Lack School Furniture
Furthermore, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak emphasized the severity of the situation by citing a report from Africa Education Watch, which revealed that over 1.3 million pupils in Ghana’s public basic schools do not have access to adequate furniture.
He stressed that this alarming statistic reflects a critical shortfall in the country’s educational infrastructure, severely impacting the learning environment for millions of children.
Dr. Apaak argued that such a widespread lack of basic resources hinders effective teaching and learning, ultimately affecting the quality of education and the future prospects of Ghana’s youth.
“Unlike Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who has no plan [nothing in the 2024 NPP manifesto] to address the current acute furniture deficit in our basic schools, John Dramani Mahama has a plan as captured in the 2024 NDC manifesto”.
Dr. Clement Abas Apaak
The MP stated that the NDC flagbearer has pledged to launch a “Furniture for All Initiative” if elected as President, aimed at addressing the severe shortage of furniture in basic schools across the country.
According to Apaak, this initiative will involve a collaborative effort with the local carpentry and furniture industry, ensuring that the production and supply of furniture are managed locally.
By partnering with these industries, the initiative not only seeks to provide a sustainable solution to the furniture deficit but also aims to create jobs and stimulate economic growth within local communities.
The MP emphasized that this approach would help build a stronger foundation for quality education while boosting the local economy. “Vote for Change. Vote for JDM/NDC”.
Dr. Apaak argued that the only viable alternative to the current government is to support the NDC, urging the public to “rescue and reset” Ghana by voting for John Mahama and the NDC in the upcoming elections.
He emphasized that a change in leadership is necessary to address the country’s pressing issues and to implement meaningful reforms.
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