Christian Kwabena Andrews, also known ‘Osofo Kyiri Abosom‘, the founder and leader of Ghana Union Movement, has criticised John Dramani Mahama for promising a free-fees policy for first-year tertiary students.
Rather, the GUM leader wants Mahama to focus on providing skills for the students instead of absolving their school fees.
Kyiri Abosom says a previous administration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) led by John Mahama criticised graduates for lacking the industrial wherewithal to create jobs after school, the reason many of them remain unemployed years after completing school.
This, is what the pastor cum politician says should be addressed rather than paying for their fees.
His comments follow a promise by John Dramani Mahama during the launch of the NDC’s Youth Manifesto, revealing his intentions to scrap the fees for all first-year tertiary institutions.
“As Mahama himself said the graduates who don’t have work to do – because they don’t have the skills we need in our country. That’s what he said when he was in power.
“So, I’m even surprised to hear him come and say that he’s going to give entrance to the university free for the first-year students,” told Accra-based JoyNews Wednesday, August 14, 2024.
Questioning the impact of the policy, Kyiri Abosom noted that students who pay their own fees even struggle to find jobs after school, asking what would become of those whose fees would be taken care of by the State.
Additionally, the GUM presidential aspirant stated that while he supports the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, it should be reviewed.
He suggested that students planning to pursue practical courses should benefit from the Free SHS policy, while those focused on theoretical courses should pay fees.
“I think it’s better we give free to those people who are going to do the practical work but those who want to learn the theory to become a lawyer, you have to pay,” he said.
When asked why he proposed this disparity, Mr Andrews explained, “I think it’s your own business, we’re not going to benefit anything out of that. How can we train more lawyers in this country while we don’t even have a company?
“Look at these people in Parliament and the way they are behaving, everybody wants to be a lawyer; they just want to suck our blood but not go into the practical field where they put up a factory,” he stated.
No fee stress policy: Universities could face serious operational crisis if funds delay
