If Afenyo Markin doesn’t present the Free SHS bill today we shall call him names — Minority

Minority Chief Whip Governs Kwame Agbodza

The Minority in Parliament has threatened to use unflattering language against Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin if he fails to present the proposed bill on the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy in the House today, Friday, June 28.

The bill aims to make the Free SHS intervention mandatory for future governments, ensuring the policy's sustainability.

Despite the Majority Leader’s claims that the Minority opposes the bill, they have denied this and urged the government to address existing challenges in the education sector.

Minority Chief Whip Governs Kwame Agbodza, speaking on the floor of Parliament, emphasized that the bill must be presented on Friday for further action.

“Today is the deadline for him to bring the bill to the House, and we will call him names. Inform him before he gets here that if he doesn’t present the Free SHS bill today, we shall call him names in this house today,” he stated.

In response, the Majority Leader assured that the bill would be laid.

“Mr. Speaker, the Free SHS Bill will come. Mr. Speaker, your ranking member on education is opposed to the Free SHS Bill. He says he is opposed to the Free SHS Bill.

“Your party machinery issued a statement against the Free SHS Bill. Your party issued a statement against the Free SHS Bill. The Free SHS Bill will come to this house. It will come,” he stated.

The Minority had earlier indicated that it would push for a dedicated funding source for the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy in the upcoming proposed legislation by the government.

Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, emphasized that the Minority is committed to thoroughly examining the bill to ensure its longevity and effectiveness.

“Is there going to be any dedicated funding for the Free SHS? I will demand that, and that will be my first preoccupation. Because you just don't come and bring a bill, and then the bill says that no government should change anything about the Free SHS. You cannot do that. It is only the constitution that can make entrenched provisions, but not an act of Parliament, so we will look at all those things when the bill is presented."