NPP’s Benjamin Ayivire questions NDC’s commitment to free SHS
Benjamin Ayivire accuses the NDC of opposing Free SHS from the start and disputes claims of improvement in student performance under the programme.
Benjamin Wedam Ayivire, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Communications Team in the Chiana-Paga Constituency, has questioned the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) commitment to the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, insisting that the party opposed the programme from its inception.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Monday, May 18, Ayivire alleged that the NDC openly resisted the policy when it was introduced by the NPP government.
According to him, some members of the NDC produced negative advertisements and made critical comments about the programme, including composing a song titled “Free Education 419” to ridicule the policy.
Ayivire argued that the NPP was justified in cautioning Ghanaians that the NDC could discontinue the policy if elected into office, citing what he described as the opposition party’s longstanding resistance to Free SHS.
He also questioned recent claims by the NDC that it had improved the policy, arguing that student performance did not reflect such assertions.
“How can they claim they have improved the policy when, according to the 2025 WASSCE results, students recorded poor performance?” he queried.
Ayivire further referenced past comments allegedly made by President John Dramani Mahama regarding the cost of the programme.
“They did a lot of adverts, and he himself said that if he had GH¢3 billion, he would not use it on Free Senior High School,” he stated.
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