President Nana Addo has admonished former President Mahama to "give him his stone" regarding FreeSHS, during the unveiling of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO) as the running mate to Vice President Bawumia.
"If today Mahama thinks FreeSHS is good, he should give me my stone," President Nana Addo jabbed the former President and Presidential Candidate for the NDC to a cheering audience at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi.
The President reiterated this remark twice in Kumasi: at the Manhyia Palace, where his party, the NPP, introduced NAPO to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, as the running mate to Dr. Bawumia, and subsequently at the Jubilee Park during the outdooring of the running mate to the populace.
He indicated that the success of the FreeSHS policy, coupled with its general acceptability, has made it a strong campaign message, as he attempted to explain the motive behind the former President’s association.
In addition, the President heaped praises on Dr Bawumia and NAPO for their competence, dedication, and loyalty to his government and country. He stressed that the duo contributed immensely to his 2016 campaign, leading to the appointment of NAPO as the Minister for Education, where he excelled greatly, implementing the FreeSHS policy despite widespread opposition and significant challenges.
The President challenged party faithful and Ghanaians to vote for the competence he has observed in the duo over the past eight years, asserting that it is the surest way to ensure the continuity of the policy.
It will be recalled that former President Mahama, during a media engagement in Accra on September 8, 2024, affirmed his unflinching commitment to the Free Senior High School (FreeSHS) policy.
"The free SHS policy has come to stay, and I am committed to improving it," he remarked, acknowledging the critical role of the novel policy. This follows years of widespread criticism of the policy by the flagbearer and leading members of the opposition party.
