News:
March 5, 2014
Government’s move to construct 200 Senior High Schools is a breach of the country’s 1992 constitution, a reproving Member of Parliament for Okaikoi Central has maintained.
Quoting Article 35 (7) of the 1992 Constitution, the opposition MP Patrick Yaw Boamah told Joy News’ Elton John Brobbey, President John Mahama is violating the Directive Principles of State policy for abandoning a model secondary school project started by the former Kufuor administration.
The provision states “as far as practicable, a government shall continue and execute projects and programmes commenced by the previous Governments”.
President John Mahama last Monday cut the sod for the construction of an initial 50 new community day senior high schools (SHSs) in fulfillment of his 2012 campaign promise.
The aim is to construct 200 by the end of his tenure in 2016. But Patrick Boamah is unimpressed, insisting the constitutional provision demanding continuation of previous projects is “mandatory”.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) under the Kufuor administration introduced the model school concept during his last term in office, 2004 -2008.
The idea was to upgrade at least one SHS into a model school, to give equal opportunity to the youth throughout the country to access high quality education in their respective districts.
The first phase of the project, covered four Senior High Schools in the Western region, including the Baidoo Bonsoe Senior High School in the Ahanta West District, Shama Senior High in the Shama District, Amenfiman Senior High School in the Wassa Amenfi East District, and the Sefwi Wiawso Secondary School were completed before the exit of the Kufuor administration.
However, the second phase of the project, which was to commence in 2009, covering the Half Asini Senior High School in the Jomoro District, Juaboso Senior High School in Juaboso District, and Fiaseman Senior High School at Tarkwa, has been halted.
The MP believes the president didn’t consult directors at the education ministry before attempting to start another infrastructural project.
“If he had consulted well, the ministers and the directors at the ministry could have helped in bringing those two programs together to at least save some cost and also make sure that program is sustainable”, he said.
Joy