Re: Questionable Blanket Free Education: Capitalist Mocking Themselves Into Utopian Socialism?

I read with utter dismay Koku Anyidoho's article on the implementation of the Free Senior High School Policy which is making secondary education free for all Ghanaians in public Senior High Schools. In his attempt to discount the vision of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Koku exhibited ignorance. The Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress does not understand why the NPP government which leans itself to CAPITALISM will introduce such a social policy which the National Democratic Congress (NDC), a self acclaimed SOCIALIST PARTY wanted to do progressively.

I think Koku should elevate the discourse. He must go back and read development theories and appreciate the issues very well because his article is empty and hollow.

To start with, Capitalism as economic theory is dynamic and evolving unlike Socialism. Capitalism in simple terms refers to the economic system where private entities own production. That is production is in the hands of the market (private-led economy). The state plays a regulatory role. Some development theorists argue that the state must be responsible for the provision of essential public services.

Traditional Capitalism was criticised because it was deemed to have created class society. According to Socialists, private ownership of production benefited only the rich (bourgeoisies). This was challenging for the poor. Thus the rich became richer and the poor, more poorer because there was no cushion for the poor.

Privatisation which was championed by the Breton Wood Institutions (International Monetary Fund and the World Bank) failed to produce the anticipated results in most parts of the world. The Breton Woods repackaged privatisation because the state needed to play a role in the provision of public service. Hence, Public Private Partnership(PPP) was introduced as an alternative to Privatisation.

There was thus the need to provide a cushion for the vulnerable who had been made poor because of private ownership of production. Altruism became part of capitalist programmes to provide support to the needy. This was championed by Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs). NGOs provide services such as education, health, water etc. Development theorists will call this new paradigm NEOLIBERALISM .

Neoliberalism as an economic theory has two streams, the ECONOMIC which is championed by MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS and the SOCIAL which is led by NGOs. Some development theorists refer Neoliberalism as a new form of Capitalism where there is a shift from Far Right Policies to the Center featuring some social policies to provide a cushion for the vulnerable.

We must not forget that, even in old capitalist states, the state played key roles in the provision of essential services such as health, education and security.

Education is a social good so there is nothing wrong if government wants to provide it for free. Government has a duty to support the vulnerable in the society and like the President stated, knowledge and talents are not for the rich and that no one must be denied education because of money. Making basic/secondary education free is the way to go.

It is therefore surprising that Koku Anyidoho will take this posture towards the implementation of the Free SHS Policy. He should know that CAPITALISM has a new shape. It is for this same reason why President Kufour introduced free Maternal Health Care Policy, Capitation Grant, School Feeding Programme and the National Health Insurance Programme.

On sustainability, I find the debate very interesting. How were we able to sustain the National Health Insurance and the Youth Employment Programmes? Nothing is impossible if thinking goes into it. First of all, we must show commitment towards this initiative. The second thing is to critically analyse the problems that may lie ahead. Once the problems are know, we may be able to make decisions to prevent them. Governance is not sitting in offices and receiving visitors. It demands thinking and creativity.

Free Senior High School has come to stay. Let us embrace it and work towards its success.

God bless Ghana!
God bless Nana Addo!!
God bless us all!!!
Richmond Yeboah
MPhil Development Studies
Cape Coast, Ghana
0202320671