Some parents and students in the Junior High Schools have warned Dr. Paa Kwasi Ndoum, the flag bearer of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) in the 2012 general election to desist from going to court to contest the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) as promised by President John Dramani Mahama in 2015 or face their wrath.
While some of the people who spoke to the Ghana Palaver in an interview have promised to take Dr. Ndoum to the river deity popularly called Antoa Nyama in the Ashanti Region to cast a spell on him, others have also promised to vote against him in the 2016 general elections if he dare stop the implementation of the Free SHS.
The threat follows a petition filed by the PPP on Monday at the Supreme Court which sought to prevent government from implementing the free SHS starting from the 2015/2016 academic year.
According to the Papa Kwasi Ndoum led party, it is convinced that the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) has failed to implement the constitutional obligation of providing Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) to the citizenry and out of political conveniences has rather sought to compound the problem with a promise to implement a free Senior High School policy.
In an interview with the Ghana Palaver, Madam Adwoa Nyamekye, a trader at Kantamanto expressed shock that a party’s leader who claims to have the well being of Ghanaians at heart would dare to prevent President John Mahama from implementing the free SHS which is a constitutional obligation.
She said many parents have failed to send their children to the SHS as a result of poverty and single parenthood and therefore the announcement by government to start the implementation of the free SHS in the next academic year was very heartwarming as it would cushion such parents.
She therefore wondered why Dr. Ndoum would attempt to stop the government from implementing the laudable policy which would go a long way to enhance education in the country.
“In fact, if Dr. Ndoum succeeds in stopping the government from implementing the free SHS next year, I will lead a group of women in the Accra Region to go to Antoa to cast a big spell on him and his family, as well as his political party,” she warned.
Mr. Joshua Quatey, a resident of Darkuman in Accra was also surprised about the behaviour of Dr. Ndoum and leadership of his party over their decision to go to court.
According to him in the 2012 general elections, Dr. Ndoum who was the flag bearer of the PPP promised free SHS to the Ghanaian electorates and wondered what might have caused the sudden change of mind.
“Dr. Ndoum also promised us free SHS in the 2012 elections but he lost and under normal circumstances, he should be supporting President Mahama to implement the policy rather than trying to stop him,” he said.
Mr. Quartey said the free SHS policy is not a bona fide property of any political party or individual but rather a constitutional obligation and it is time Ndoum and his cronies stop in their attempt to frustrate the government.