As living beneficiaries and witnesses of the unfolding Free SHS programme, students of some select schools have undertaken to be envoys of the initiative.
To this end, Crusaders for National Salvation (CNS), a group associated with the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has launched the ‘Abuakwa South Free SHS’ campaign at Kyebi-Asikam in the Eastern Region.
In an interview with the Daily Statesman, the Executive Director of CNS, Nana Kofi Fredua Birikorang, noted that the move is aimed at promoting and guarding jealously the flagship initiative of the government.
He said the young ambassadors themselves now know the importance of education as well as the benefit of the Free SHS programme for their future. They therefore want to leave an imprint in the minds of their peers and families as well as members of the general public and opposition elements who are still in doubt.
It is in this direction that they are propagating the initiative to their peers and families with the support of CNS.
“We are targeting families who have not benefitted from the Free SHS initiative. We want the initiative to stay, and for that to happen it means we need to retain President Nana Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in power,” he said.
“We are doing so in order for people to really understand the concept of the initiative and in turn willingly vote for President Akufo-Addo with love, come December 7, to continue his good works,” he added.
Nana Kofi Birikorang further noted that the move is also to stand up against the negative devises of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), “especially after its flagbearer, John Mahama, had openly announced his intentions to collapse the initiative”.
“If we do not guard jealously the Free SHS policy and become complacent, if the NDC comes into power, they will collapse the initiative,” he said.
Voting
The CNS Executive Director further told this paper that, as part of activities, the students will be educated on the electoral process and how to cast their vote come December 7 as majority of them are first time voters.
“Having interacted with the kids about voting, I realised that majority of them have no idea about it, and this was evident when I invited about 15 of them to my house and gave them sample ballot papers and they spoilt the paper,” he said.
Touching on other activities of the group before the general elections, Nana Kofi Birikorang said, “Before December 7, we will organise a massive campaign to leave an imprint on the minds of people about the government’s initiatives and future endeavours.”
As part of activities prior to the launch, executives of CNS organised a walk where a number of youth, including the new envoys, joined. The old were also not left behind.
Meanwhile, the new Free SHS envoys began a house-to-house campaign on Monday, starting from Asikam, and are expected to cover all the areas in the Abuakwa South constituency and proceed to Begoro and other surrounding towns.
About The Author
