The NDC’s promise to pay the Academic Facility User Fees for all level 100 students smacks double standards and policy inconsistencies, Piero writes The National

Democratic Congress (NDC) has long touted itself as a party of the people, championing policies that purportedly benefit the less privileged in society. However, their recent policy propositions, particularly concerning education, reveal a glaring inconsistency that raises questions about their commitment to thoughtful and sustainable governance.

In 2017, when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) introduced the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, the NDC was quick to criticize. They labeled the policy as unrealistic, unfeasible, and financially unsustainable. The NDC advocated for a selective approach, arguing that only those who could not afford to pay for SHS should benefit from the government’s support. According to them, a blanket free education policy was too costly and would place an undue burden on the state’s finances.

Fast forward to Monday August 12, 2024, and the NDC unveiled their Youth Manifesto ahead of the upcoming December elections. A centerpiece of their manifesto is the “Stress-Free Fee-Paying” policy, which promises to cover academic facility user fees for all students entering public universities, regardless of their financial background. This proposal is strikingly similar to the Free SHS policy they once vehemently opposed.

The contradiction is glaring. How can the NDC argue against a universal free education policy at the secondary school level, citing financial impracticalities, and then turn around to propose a universal fee payment policy for first year university students? This inconsistency suggests a lack of coherent policy thinking and raises concerns about the party’s true intentions.

Moreover, the NDC’s approach appears not to be thoroughly thought through. The financial implications of paying academic facility user fees for all public university students are enormous, especially in a country that already struggles with revenue generation and budget deficits. If the NDC believed that the Free SHS policy was too costly, how do they justify the sustainability of their proposed university fee policy? It seems the NDC is more interested in making grand promises to win votes than in crafting policies that are financially viable and beneficial in the long term.

The NDC’s shift in stance also highlights a broader issue of political opportunism. When in opposition, they are quick to criticize and dismiss policies that require significant state investment. Yet, when seeking power, they propose equally ambitious and costly policies without providing clear plans for funding and implementation. This kind of double standard undermines the credibility of their policy propositions and suggests that they are more focused on political expediency than on the genuine welfare of Ghanaians.

The NDC’s contradictory approach to education policy exposes a fundamental inconsistency in their governance philosophy. Their criticism of the Free SHS policy, followed by a similar proposal for university students, raises questions about their policy coherence and long-term vision for the country. Ghanaians deserve leaders who propose policies grounded in realistic assessments of the nation’s financial capabilities like Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, rather than those who make promises that may be difficult, if not impossible, to fulfill.

*#Bawumia2024
#ItIsPossible
#BoldSolutionsForOurFuture
#GhanasNextChapter.

Written by: Asare, Peter Kwame [Piero]

Communication, NPP.
Bekwai Constituency.

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