Free SHS: Kufuor poo-poo’s ‘rich must pay’ argument

The argument that parents who can afford it, should be made to pay their children’s fees at the Senior High level has not found favour with John Agyekum Kufuor.

According to the former President, at the incipient stages of such a policy, it will be difficult to discriminate against persons who are deemed to be rich.

“If you have one or two years to launch such a programme, how do you make time to say Mr. ‘A’ should be made to pay and Mr. ‘B’ should not pay,” he quizzed.  “It won’t work,” he added.

John Kufuor

Mr. Kufuor explained that it is in the latter stages of the policy implementation that the managers of the policy, Finance and Education Ministries will assess the policy sustainability by ensuring that those who can truly afford will then contribute.

“But if the government starts ‘segregating’ at the beginning…how do you assess [to know] those who can afford,” he quizzed.

He explained that it would be easy to target the people in the formal sector but the informal sector is far bigger than the formal sector so the government must proceed with some prudence.

Hailing the policy itself, Mr. Kufuor said it is geared toward ensuring that “literacy becomes the order of the day”.

Different views from government?

It, however, appears that not everyone in the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) or even the administration, hold the same view.

Ken Ofori Atta believes the rich should pay

Speaking to Accra-based Citi TV, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta suggested that, parents who can afford should be made to pay.

“…it may be that there have to be changes in the way we are administering it. I can’t take my child to Achimota or Odorgono and leave him or her there and drive away and not pay for anything whiles I can pay for 10 people,” he stated.

That comment, however, ignited the fury of colleagues in government, as then Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid described it as a dead opinion and called for the opinion to be disregarded.

Business summit

However, the opinion still gathers steam anytime it is brought up.

Participants at the Graphic/Stanbic business summit a few weeks ago gave an overwhelming endorsement to the suggestion that the ‘rich must pay’.

The administration is, however, adamant. President Akufo-Addo has stated that his motive is to get every child educated without leaving anyone behind and the approach is to remove the financial constraint for all.