FREE EDUCATION UP TO UNIVERSITY IN GHANA: NPP & NDC CONVERGENCE POLICY

August 13, 2024

By:Prof. Peter Twumasi
Of all the Ghana’s constitutionally mandated and equitable distribution of government services to the citizenry, it is only the FREE SHS policy that has touched all households in Ghana, be it rural district like my Ahafo Ano South West District (Mankranso) in Ashanti Region or in the city like Accra Metropolis in the capital.

In the past, Ghanaians who through no fault of theirs but happened to be residents in our rural communities or born into poor families automatically became excluded from education. Think of talents that have been lost through such unfair policies.

I remember growing up at the Abroye Farmhouse near Abodease in the Mankranso District, no indigene of our community came in contact with a college graduate. All teachers were ordinary people’s teachers, and their students hardly passed their educational level. This, I raised in my 2019 book, “RISING FROM THE FARMHOUSE”.

Today, thanks to His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government’s FREE SHS POLICY; almost every household in my farming District pride themselves with SHS graduates. And many have reached university level for the first time over generations. This educational transformation of the citizenry has never happened since the birth of Ghana in 1957.

Knowledge is power. And that is why I believe the best ever, and best way to invest the nation’s resources is through education.

I therefore commend both political parties, NPP and NDC, for agreeing to unite around education to give every Ghanaian education free of charge up to the UNIVERSITY LEVEL. IT IS indeed POSSIBLE if we bind our strength together and go on this great path of national transformation.

Others may worry about the cost, and some the availability of infrastructural and human resources, but I believe that where THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS WAY (Referencing motto of my Alma Mater, Kumasi Academy).

The best ever policy brought up for discussion by the NDC prior to 2024 General Election is their intent to make FREE EDUCATION UP to the University Level. I commend their leadership, and encourage them to be bold to make it FREE for the entire duration of the public university education (not only at the first year).

Ahafo Ano South West District (Mankranso) stands for EQUAL EDUCATION FOR RURAL AND URBAN DUELLERS UP TO THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL. Our contribution of cocoa, timber and gold to the national kitty should be invested in this policy.

God bless our Homeland Ghana and make us great and strong.

Prof. Peter Twumasi