Editor-In-Chief of the New Crusading Guide Newspaper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako has put his head on the chopping block, implicitly challenging the current administration to publicly state the whereabouts of the construction of a hundred and twenty three (123) free-day Senior High School (SHS) in the country.
To him, “the 123 SHS is a myth, it is not happening," and charged the ruling party and government spokespersons to be honest to Ghanaians on the issue.
The seasoned journalist says his conviction stems from the fact that government is facing ‘serious budget constraints’.
President Mahama, speaking in a recent interview with Twin City Radio in the Western Region, prior to the commissioning of one of the 200 schools located at Bamiankor in the Nzema East Municipality of the region, admitted that though government's target of constructing 200 schools before the end of my first term in office is attainable, "there are budgetary constraints".
“We have awarded contract for the first 50 schools and most of them are in the advanced stages of completion and those are the ones I am commissioning...For this financial year, 2015, we have awarded another 50, the sites have been handed over to the contractors and they are supposed to start work. So as I speak, 123 of the 200 schools have been awarded on contract,” he disclosed.
A couple of days later, at an NDC rally held at the Jackson Park in Koforidua, he reiterated that his administration is on course to delivering about 123 out of the promised 200 in the budget by next year saying ‘240,000 vacancies would be created for Ghanaian children once the 123 free day schools are built.”
But contributing to a panel discussion on PeaceFM's "Kokrokoo" Morning Show, Mr Baako simply scoffed at the promise.
He insisted that there is no way the current administration can deliver on its word to construct the 123 free-day SHSs by the end of next year.
"...they can’t deliver the so-called 123 schools…it’s a myth…,” Kweku Baako stated.
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