Sustainable development expert Michael Ebo Amoah has opined that the announcement by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), that it has incorporated free tertiary education for students admitted into tertiary institutions is coming late.
The lecturer said the NDC as a party should have introduced this policy earlier since it is an instructive policy.
According to him, he is not surprised at the promise because desperate times call for desperate measures.
Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, he described the elections as a crucial one because the political career of candidate Mahama or Nana Addo will sink if they lose.
The NDC has announced that it has incorporated free tertiary education for students admitted in the 2020/2021 academic year into its 2020 manifesto.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, December 1, 2020, the National Chairman of the party, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said the proposal to update the manifesto was made by NDC’s Education Policy Group.
Also, continuing students will pay half of their school fees under the updated manifesto promise.
According to the statement, the next NDC government will absorb “the full school fees of Ghanaian students who will be admitted to tertiary institutions in the 2020/2021 academic year.”
“This policy is an enhancement of our commitment in the People’s Manifesto to absorb 50% of the school fees of all tertiary students for the 2020/2021 academic year through the ‘Kyemupe’ policy, which will now apply to only continuing students in tertiary institutions in the country,” the statement added.
But Mr. Ebo Amoah has questioned the sustainability of the policy demanding answers over where the money for implementation would come from.
He said Ghanaians should not allow political parties to just make promises without analyzing them.
”Where would the money be coming from. If they tell us, it would help us. Tell us where you are going to get the money and the sustainability for the ‘Fa ninyinaa’ policy.
”When I look at the timing and the days left for the elections, it would be difficult to scrutinize this policy. That is why I doubt the sustainability and credibility of the policy. It looks as if they just want to use this as a tool to get our votes but would not be candid when it comes to the implementation.”
He added the election would be decided by first-time voters hence it would have been prudent for the NDC to have introduced the policy much earlier.
Meanwhile, he is also demanding answers to how the scholarship secretariat would fund the free tertiary it has announced for graduates of the free senior high school graduates.
He believes if the secretariat had been depoliticized, it would not take political parties to make such announcements.
The GHc20 million announced for the implementation he noted is woefully inadequate and to show commitment, the government must increase the amount.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com
