John Mahama
The presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has stated he would scrap the government’s provision of free food to students through the National Food Buffer Stock Company Limited.
In what looks like a desperate attempt to clarify his promise to review the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, he said instead of paying the Buffer Stock Company Limited, heads of schools will be responsible for procuring food themselves from the open market to feed students.
Addressing a political rally, Mr. Mahama criticised the current centralised food procurement system managed through Buffer Stock, alleging that it has led to a decline in the quality of food served in schools.
He claimed that under the current system, headmasters struggle to feed students when food deliveries from the Buffer Stock Company are delayed. He promised to return financial control to school management, allowing them to purchase food directly from the open market.
This promise comes at a time when Ghanaians are challenging the NDC to define what they mean by a “review” of the Free SHS policy.
The NPP has alleged that the NDC’s plan to review the policy is a veiled attempt to cancel the programme, which has provided free secondary education to over 5 million Ghanaians in the past seven years.
The NDC, however, claims that its review of Free SHS is aimed at targeting needy but brilliant students, instead of the current wholesale approach of the NPP government.
Nevertheless, the NDC’s promise to offer free first-year tertiary education to all students from the next academic year has raised questions about the party’s sincerity in criticising the NPP’s wholesale Free SHS policy, forcing the NDC to reconsider its position.
In light of the growing scrutiny, the NDC has now shifted its focus, promising to review the feeding arrangements associated with the current Free SHS policy.
A Daily Guide Report