Education Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has stated that, he will prefer his children to study on the floor than to sell by the roadside.

His comments come in reaction to former President John Mahama's criticism of the Free Senior High Scool policy being implemented by the government.

Mr. Mahama described the policy as rushed. 

Dr. Opoku Prempeh who will have none of the former President's criticisms referred to him as the worst President in Ghana’s history stating that, “we [Ghana] are suffering because of him”.

He stated on Badwam on Adom TV, Tuesday that, the former president should wish the government well on the Free SHS policy instead of engaging in criticisms.

“I will prefer my children to study on the floor than to sell by the road,” he added.

Mr. Mahama, while speaking at a National Democratic Congress Unity Walk in Somanya in the Eastern Region Saturday, told party faithful that, the overwhelming challenges facing the Akufo-Addo-led government’s free SHS programme demand that, the President calls for a stakeholder conversation.

Read: Rushed Free SHS implementation constricting gov’t budget - Mahama

“I want to tell Nana Addo that, it is not too late to hold a national stake holder’s conference on Free SHS…,” he said.

He, however, stressed that they [both parties] agreed on the concept of free SHS but where they differ is the concept of it being implemented progressively.

Watch video:

Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko has also suggested that, former President John Mahama is a hypocrite for suggesting a stakeholders' meeting on the free Senior High School Policy.

The Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon says, Mr. Mahama implemented his own version of the progressively Free SHS policy without doing any such stakeholder consultation and therefore, is not in the position to call for such from the Akufo-Addo government.

Emmanuel Agyarko

"In 2013, he came to Parliament and said he will do free SHS, why didn’t he think it was necessary to have a broad stakeholder’s conversation…who did he consult…if it was not relevant then, why is it [relevant] now!”

“He decided that he will do a certain progressive…and they told the day students that they will pay their fees but they ended up paying only 1/3 of that money,” he stated Tuesday, on Joy News TV’s AM Show.

George Loh

Former MP for North Dayi Constituency, George Loh, who was also on the AM Show defended John Mahama’s position, saying that all the former president was asking for was a dialogue on the issue since the challenges are prevalent.

“All we [NDC] say is that, let us [Ghana] take a look at free SHS again; is there a way we can make it more progressive,” he said.