The Communications Director of Bawumia’s Campaign team, Dennis Edward Aboakye, expressed his dissatisfaction with the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) newly proposed policy regarding the free Academic fees for all level 100 students in Ghanaian universities.
The point of discussion centered around the confusion created by the NDC’s policy announcement and the subsequent clarifications provided by Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, the Director of Policy for the NDC.
The NDC announced a policy aimed at making education more accessible by covering the fees for all level 100 students in Ghana. This proposal, however, was met with skepticism and required further clarification, especially concerning the implementation strategy.
Initially, the NDC’s announcement appeared to suggest that these fees would be entirely waived for first-year university students, causing a stir among the public and raising questions about the feasibility of the plan.
Meanwhile, in a social media post Dr. Otokunor, attempted to clarify the policy’s details. According to Dr. Otokunor, the NDC plans to use an “enhanced and responsive student loan scheme” to cover the fees for level 100 students, rather than providing a direct waiver.
This explanation, however, only seemed to deepen the confusion. Dennis Aboakye pointed out that this clarification suggested the policy was not a straightforward grant but rather a loan-based initiative.
The Role of the Student Loan Trust
Dennis Aboakye questioned the innovative aspect of the NDC’s proposal, given that Ghana already has an existing student loan scheme. He pointed out that the student loan trust fund was created to assist University students in financing their education, and it has been accessible to all students requiring financial support. Dennis Aboakye argued that the NDC’s plan, as explained by Dr. Otokunor, did not introduce anything new but rather relied on an already established system.
“The student loan scheme is already in existence and is available to all students in all the tertiary universities, they need to give us clarity, [and] then we can have a conversation.”
Dennis Edward Aboakye Communication Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)
Dennis Aboakye emphasized the need for the NDC to provide a more detailed and transparent explanation of their proposal.
Dennis Aboakye further expressed concerns about the sincerity and practicality of the NDC’s policy. He questioned the party’s commitment to the plan, given the lack of clarity and the seeming contradiction in their messaging.
“The reality here is that the NDC has no plans for these young people. They just want to throw things into the air and get their vote,” Aboakye asserted, criticizing the NDC for what he perceived as an attempt to win votes without a solid plan in place.
Moreover, Dennis Aboakye raised the issue of the terminology used by the NDC, particularly the reference to an “academic user fee,” which he claimed does not exist. Dennis Aboakye argued that this term added to the confusion surrounding the policy and indicated a lack of understanding or careful planning on the part of the NDC.
The Government’s Existing Efforts to University Education
In contrast to the NDC’s proposal, Dennis Aboakye highlighted the current government’s achievements in making education more accessible. He mentioned the removal of the guarantor system for student loans as a significant step towards ensuring that all students, regardless of their financial background, can access higher education.
“We are the government that made it free for these students that require formal education to go through senior high school, we are the government that is committed to ensure that they get further education to the federal institutions.”
Dennis Edward Aboakye Communication Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)
Dennis Aboakye urged the NDC to come forward with a more coherent and unified explanation of their policy. He emphasized the need for clarity, especially when dealing with issues as important as education.
“Let’s not go to town. Let’s not cover up for them. Let’s call them. Let them take their time and explain to us what this policy is about.”
Dennis Edward Aboakye Communication Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)
Dennis Aboakoye highlighted the complexities and challenges of proposing and implementing educational policies in Ghana. His position therefore underscored the importance of clear communication from political parties to avoid public confusion and ensure that proposed policies are both practical and beneficial to the citizens.
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