Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's running mate for the 2024 election says former President John Mahama has no moral right to claim credit for the Free SHS programme.

Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh says this is unacceptable especially when the NDC and its candidate consistently ridiculed the policy.

He made these remarks while campaigning in Jema in the Kintampo South Constituency of the Bono East Region, at a durbar attended by chiefs, the clergy, other identifiable groups, and the townspeople.

According to Dr. Opoku Prempeh, former President Mahama once disrespected Free SHS students by claiming they passed their exams because they were allowed to cheat.

He added that Mr Mahama made numerous statements to prove to Ghanaians that the policy was not feasible.

Dr. Opoku Prempeh questioned whether President Mahama has any shame left to even think of claiming he started a policy he has consistently condemned.

“He claimed he was the one who initiated the Free SHS programme. But this is the same person who said that even if he had the money, he wouldn’t use it for Free SHS, calling it a 419 scheme and claiming that it was destroying education. If he truly started it, would he have made such statements?

“So, chiefs, there are good governments and poor governments, and that’s the truth.

“He is the only one whose government came into power, and for four of the eight years that the NDC was in power, the country was plunged into darkness for five years,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Jema, Nana Amponsah Gyan II, thanked the NPP for recognising his town and for the numerous projects it has championed.

"I want to thank the NPP and the grassroots supporters for their good work done through the MP and the DCE," he said.