Teacher licensure exams: CETAG opposing Mahama’s cancellation plan not surprising; his promises don’t inspire hope

Presidential staffer Dennis Miracles Aboagye has hit out at former President John Mahama over his pledge to cancel teacher licensure exams if elected president again.

In a post on social media, Mr. Aboagye described the opposition NDC flagbearer's promise as "retrogressive" and said the rejection of the proposal by the teachers' group CETAG was not surprising to him.

Mr. Aboagye, who is a communications member of the ruling NPP, said Ghanaian teachers want to find themselves at par with their peers globally.

"They acknowledge the need for change and transition but are willing to adapt for long term growth in their careers," he stated.

He backed CETAG's stance that the teacher licensure exams play an important role in ensuring professionalism and competence within the teaching ranks.

The presidential staffer took a swipe at Mr. Mahama, saying Ghanaians have not been inspired by his campaign pledges so far.

"They don’t seem to inspire hope and imbibe confidence, sounds more like, you, trying to trick us into giving you power like you did to us in the past," Mr. Aboagye asserted.

He urged the former president to put more work into his policy proposals to address the country's challenges instead of what he termed as "cheap political ideas."

Mr. Aboagye's criticisms of Mr. Mahama's pledge come after CETAG president Prince Obeng Himah rejected cancelling the examination.

“In my opinion, it is something that is good and it shouldn’t be cancelled. That is CETAG we have stated that we should implement what we agreed two years ago when we had a conference that the students wanting to enter the teaching profession should be subjected to entrance exams,” he told Accra-based Citi TV/FM.

Teacher licensure exams: CETAG opposing Mahama’s cancellation plan not surprising; his promises don’t inspire hope — Miracles Aboagye