John Mahama
The Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has sparked confusion with its fee-free education policy, leaving many questioning the party’s commitment to truly free education.
Barely 72 hours after the party launched the policy after loudly touting it to be a completely free education policy, the NDC has revealed that students will still be required to take out loans to cover costs, which they will then repay later.
The NDC’s history with the reduction policy has been marked by promises and contradictions.
In 2012, the party’s flagbearer, John Mahama, promised to provide free tertiary education, but the policy was never implemented.
The latest clarification on the fee-free policy has raised eyebrows, with many questioning the NDC’s ability to effectively govern.
Sammy Gyamfi, the NDC’s Communication Officer, on GTV, attempted to clarify the policy, stating that the party will pay the full school fees for first-year students, while continuing students can apply for loans to cover their fees.
However, this clarification has only added to the confusion.
George Opare Addo, the National Youth Organiser of the NDC, also outlined the party’s plan to use the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to finance their proposed initiative of free first-year tuition in public universities.
However, this plan has also been met with scepticism, with many questioning the sustainability of the policy.
As the election season heats up, the NDC’s confusing U-turn on their fee-free policy is likely to become a major talking point.
-BY Daniel Bampoe