It’s less than 11 months to the 2020 elections and, as expected, the campaign promises are already in full flow. While the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is yet to really kick things off, the leading opposition party and its flagbearer are already in the campaign mood. John Dramani Mahama is bent on returning to power and has so far made a series of promises to Ghanaians.
We take a look at some of the promises Mahama has made in the lead up to the December polls:
1. Build new universities in new regions
John Mahama has promised to build new universities in each of the six newly created regions in order to revamp technical education. According to him, the next NDC government will ensure that there is enough infrastructure to accommodate tertiary students. To this end, he has pledged to build universities in the Savannah, North East, Bono East, Ahafo, Western North and Oti regions.
2. Free Technical and Vocational Education (TVET)
Another promise Mahama has made is to ensure that Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) become free. In his view, making Technical and Vocational Education free at all levels will help train more skilled human resources. “I’ll make technical and vocational education in Ghana, free of charge. I note that, this has generated a positive reception from Ghanaians. Let me assure that, our program of technical and vocational education are comprehensive and far-reaching,” Mahama recently said.
3. Scrap teacher licensure exams
The NDC flagbearer has also promised to scrap the teacher licensure exams if he’s voted back into power. Speaking at the NDC’s campaign donations fundraiser in Accra, Mahama said the party has never intended to use exams as a means of licensing teachers. He also pledged to reintroduce the automatic promotion of teachers in the country after the licensure exam is scrapped.
4. No appointee of his will be allowed to buy a state vehicle
Mahama has also indicated that the phenomenon where political officeholders buy state vehicles will be halted if he wins the 2020 elections. This, the NDC flagbearer said, will be one of the main ways to ensure that corruption in his government is tackled. In place of this, Mahama said a financing module will be introduced to allow for financial institutions to aid political officeholders to purchase items they need.
5. Scrap double-track system
One of Mahama’s main campaign promises has centered on scrapping the double-track system at public secondary schools. This particular system of education divides the entire student body and staff into two different tracks; so while one track is in school, the other is on vacation. However, Mahama has countlessly reiterated that the double-track system is a big disservice to students and will abolish it if the NDC returns to power.
6. Complete the construction of 200 abandoned secondary schools across the country
Mahama has constantly hit out at the Akufo-Addo government for abandoning some secondary school buildings the erstwhile NDC government started. “In my round touring communities across the country, I have drawn attention to the criminal abandonment of projects and this is one very good example,” he stated while touring the Northern region in 2019. He has, therefore, promised to complete all the secondary school blocks that the current government has abandoned, should he be voted back into power come December 2020.
7. Reduce the size of government
Mahama is not a fan of Akufo-Addo’s ‘elephant’ size government and has pledged to reduce the number of appointees if given a second chance at the presidency. According to him, some ministerial positions under the current government are draining the national purse. He has, therefore, promised to cut down on the 123 ministers currently serving in the NPP government if he’s elected president in the December polls. YEN.com.gh earlier reported that John Mahama says if given the opportunity to lead the country again, he will make sure his appointees do not purchase vehicles belonging to the state.
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