Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah rejected former President John Mahama’s claim that there is bedbug outbreak in the various senior high schools due to huge numbers arising out of the government’s free SHSH programme.
Mr. Mahama last Saturday claimed he has received calls from students across the country complaining of bedbugs as a result of congestion attributable to the large numbers from the Free SHS programme.
But Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said on Monday the comments by the former president was not surprising as Mr. Mahama has at the least opportunity sought to undermine the free SHS.
“… It is important to note that the former president is on record as not being supportive of the Free SHS programme, and indeed he has always attempted to demonize it at every opportunity he gets,” the Minister said.
Speaking at a news conference in Accra to address a number of issues, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said government has successfully carried out a fumigation exercise across Senior High Schools in the country.
“We want to state on record that government has just completed fumigating 678 Senior High Schools across the length and breadth of this country. The fumigation exercise was completed just about a week ago,”
He wondered why Mr. Mahama would go on that tangent when under his government there was no such fumigation exercise at the various SHS in the country.
“Let me state that , as I speak to you this morning, we do not have records of the last time all Senior High Schools, or public Senior High Schools in Ghana were fumigated comprehensively as has been done in this exercise, even including under and during the John Mahama administration.”
“So it is interesting that things that were not done even during and under that administration, when they are done today, the former president can pretend that he is not aware of it, of which he makes comments aimed at undermining them,” Mr. Oppong Nkrumah stated.
The Minister further reiterated government’s commitment to ensure that the free SHS programme succeeds.
He added that the Akufo-Addo administration would not leave any stone unturned in achieving its objectives with regards to the programme.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah advised Mr. Mahama to speak to facts when commenting on issues of national interest.
By Irene Amesimeku| 3news.com| Ghana