NDC Manifesto Launch: 200 New SHS, 10 Teacher Training Colleges And New University To Be Built

President John Dramani Mahama

The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), has launched its manifesto for the 2012 elections with a pledge to build 200 new senior high schools (SHS) by the end of year 2016.

President John Dramani Mahama, flagbearer of the NDC who launched the manifesto at the Jubilee Park in Ho said 10 new training colleges would also be built to expand the training of teachers to equip the new schools to be built.

Explaining the 75-page manifesto, which is in four thematic areas of transparent and accountable government, strong economy for real job creation, investing in people and expanding infrastructure for growth, President Mahama said, the measures are in line with the NDC's priority of ensuring access to education throughout the country, because currently, there is no equity.

“We will increase the number of scholarships that we give to needy and deprived families so that their children can have access to education and also invest more money at basic level in order to comply with the constitution since we are still not complaint with FCUDE as parents are still paying some fees”, the President said.

He said at the teriary level, one public university will be built in the Eastern Region while polytechnic affiliation to the universities would be expanded so that the polytechnics could award degrees so as to help academic progression of HND students.

Ultimately President Mahama said the objective would be for the polytechnics to become fully fledged universities.

He said the teacher training institutions would run a programme to churn out Specialised Kindergarten Teachers to provide pre-school children the needed foundation for sound education.

On free education, President Mahama maintained that the vision of free education belongs to the ordinary people of Ghana who drafted the 1992 constitution under the consultative assembly, and made provision for free compulsory basic education in the constitution.

“It is not somebody’s vision. It is not somebody’s wish. That issue cannot be a matter of partisan political debate”, he said.

President Mahama said all governments were therefore enjoined to work towards free education.

He said the matter to be debated was that, if there were additional resources, where is it best to invest them and said the NDC had a programme to ensure that every child gets equal access to education at all levels.

President Mahama, who focused his address mainly on education, said “NDC believes education is a right and not a privilege.”

The President’s address touched on other areas such as the economy, energy and agriculture.

He said in the energy sector, the issue of load shedding for instance, would be a thing of the past, promising that it would never happen again with the addition of more megawatts to the energy requirements of the country.

The Founder of the NDC, Former President Rawlings in his address said President Mahama needed help and that it was his prayer that God gives him the strength and courage to put his foot down and do what he needed to do.

In the rather brief address, uncharacteristic of him, Mr Rawlings said there was nothing more oppressive than when a political leader refused to see the actions of negative elements around him.

“In the same vain there is nothing more rewarding than when he begins to see the negative actions of these people”, he said.

“I believe our President is beginning to see for himself the actions of these same old evil dwarfs. It means there is hope”, former President Rawlings noted.

He said he was aware of what had been going on behind the doors and that was why he was sharing it publicly.

“I wish him well”, he said.
The NDC National Chairman, Dr Kwabena Adjei urged Party members to campaign to ensure that the NDC retains power.

“This is the time for the leg work so go all over and campaign”, he urged the teeming supporters at the launch.

President Mahama has already started a campaign tour of the Volta region during which he had been holding mini rallies, whistle stops and inspecting some key projects.

On Wednesday, President Mahama addressed a mini rallies at Juapong, Asikuma, Peki, Kpeve, and Dzolokpuita the capital of newly created Ho-West district.

On Friday he would address rallies at Kpetoe, Ave-Dakpa, Dzodze, Akatsi, Aflao, Keta/ Dzelukope and Sogakope to be followed by more rallies at Have, Ve Golokwati, Hohoe, Jasikan, Kadjebi, Brewaniase.

The President will also address rallies at Nkwanta, Bonakye, Kpassah, Damanko, to be followed the next day at Dambai, Krachi, Chinderi and finally at Banda where he would proceed to the Northern Region through Welensi and Yendi to continue his tour.

Story: Enoch Darfah Frimpong/Graphic.com.gh