The Eastern Regional Youth Organiser of the governing New Patriotic Party, Jerry Osei-Poku, has described as a “palpable falsehood and laughable”, comments by members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the John Mahama government achieved more in the education sector during his tenure as President.
According to Mr Osei-Opoku, the claim by the NDC, for instance, that the Mahama government completed 45 new Senior High School (SHS) projects is not supported by official figures from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND), following a thorough infrastructure audit.
“For emphasis, out of the 200 E-Blocks the deceitful NDC party promised to build, as captured in their 2012 manifesto, they could complete only 29, which translates into 14.5 per cent. This is a total failure,” he said.
He added: “Secondly, the boldness with which the NDC refers to the E-Blocks as new SHS is very laughable. Acknowledging the E-Blocks (some 24 classrooms, a library and few offices) as new SHS and asking to be patted on the back is simply a glorification of mediocrity.”
Akufo-Addo’s achievement
Addressing the media during the region’s first ‘The Youth Must Know” series, at Abomosu in the Atiwa West District on Wednesday, Mr Osei-Poku said the Akufo-Addo government has commenced the construction of seven brand new SHSs that meet global standards in its first term.
According to him, the schools have administration blocks, classroom blocks, dormitory blocks, dining halls, assembly halls, laboratories, libraries, staff accommodation, roads, external works and service, among others.
“This magnificent state-of-the-art building you have seen here in Abomosu is one of the seven ultra-modern new SHSs being built by the competent government of Akufo-Addo.
“The people of Atiwa are grateful to President Akufo-Addo and Kwasi Amoako-Atta, their affable MP, for this significant investment. The rest of the projects and additional two existing schools, which are being upgraded to model schools, are ongoing in Kwadaso, Dabaa, Akrodie, Koase in Wenchi, Diaso in Central Region, Weija in Ga south, Kpasenkpe in west Mamprusi district and Awaso in Tarkwa-Nsuem,” he said.
He noted that in less than four years, the Akufo-Addo government has instituted ‘academic interventions’ and motivational packages for teachers; instituted the professional allowance for teachers; abolished Mahama’s “killer” three months salary arrears policy; developed a system that ensures the timely payment of salaries of newly recruited teachers; and restored the book and research allowance of tertiary lecturers, increasing it by 200 per cent.
He added that the government has also established efficient and effective new GES promotion process that has led to the promotion of 18,475 teachers, in the first half of 2020, and also abolished the delayed salary adjustment system.
Source: dailystatesman.com.gh/Mudasiru Abdul Yakeen
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