I’m not buying votes with free tertiary education promise, says Mahama
John Mahama, the Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), says nothing stops him from adding on to the party's manifesto even on election day
- “For instance, I have a proposal from some commercial drivers concerning something on the road transport sector, so between now and Monday if the Functional Executive approves, even though it’s not in the manifesto, we will add it to the manifesto and it will become a promise that we can be held accountable to."
Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, has justified the party’s decision to amend the party’s constitution to absorb the fees of first year students in tertiary institutions if elected into power.
Speaking in an interview with host of Accra-based Power FM, Mugabe Maase, Mahama said the party’s decision was not to attract votes as being speculated in other quarters.
“When we began, we introduced the “Kyemupe” policy to absorb 50% of the fees of students from first to the fourth year, but later the education policy committee of the party had recommendations that first year students spend a lot than in subsequent years in school,” he said.
Mahama added: “So, when we pay 50% of the fees, some students may still have challenges because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, so we should rather absorb the first-year fees of the students and subsequently absorb 50% of their fees, so the education policy committee recommended it to the Functional Executive Committee for approval.”
He explained that the decision was not meant to remove anything from the manifesto but rather enhance the existing one.
New addition
The NDC flagbearer explained that the party is allowed to add any policy to the manifesto at any given time if it will enhance the party’s chances even in the run-up to elections.
Mahama further revealed he has received a proposal from some commercial drivers on road toll which he intends adding to the party’s manifesto before the election upon approval from the Functional Executive Committee.
“For instance, I have a proposal from some commercial drivers concerning something on the road transport sector, so between now and Monday if the Functional Executive approves, even though it’s not in the manifesto, we will add it to the manifesto and it will become a promise that we can be held accountable to,” Mahama stated.
Last-minute promise
The largest opposition party on Tuesday (1 December) promised to pay the fees of all tertiary students for the 2020/2021 academic year if elected in the 7 December elections.
The national chairman of the NDC, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, in a statement on Tuesday said: “The National Democratic Congress (NDC), announces that it has accepted for incorporation in the People’s Manifesto, the recommendation of the Education Policy Group of the party that the next NDC government absorbs the full school fees of Ghanaian students who will be admitted to tertiary institutions in the 2020/2021 academic year.”
The policy, according to the NDC, 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: “The flagbearer of the party, H E John Dramani Mahama, will in due course throw more light on this enhanced package for Ghanaian students who will be admitted to tertiary institutions next year, dubbed ‘FA NINYINAA’.”
Fred Dzakpata
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