Member of Parliament for Sagnarigu, Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini has chided Education Minister, Matthew Opoku Prempeh (Napo), following ‘verbal attacks’ on his predecessor, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, describing his actions as irresponsible and unfortunate.
Mr. Opoku Prempeh, in his submissions on Asempa FM’s ‘Ekosii sen’ program last Tuesday accused Prof. Opoku Agyemang of having supervised reckless deals under her administration which resulted in huge debits which his administration has had to struggle with after assuming office. Tagging the latter as ‘disgraceful and an embarrassment, he expressed disappointment at her performance which according to him is a confirmation of the fact that ‘she didn’t understand education’.
Speaking on State of Affairs Tuesday however, Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini said the accusations and posturing of the minister were uncalled for and completely out of place.
“One of the things I felt was unfortunate was when Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang, the former Minister of Education who is acknowledged globally not just in Ghana and is an expert in education came to make some suggestions and throw some ideas, look at how he took her on, Honourable Opoku Prempeh is my good friend but on this particular one, he goofed!, the kinds of words he used to describe the honourable lady was most unfortunate”, he said.
Prof. Opoku Agyemang had previously questioned government’s implementation of its flagship Free SHS policy on the same program in September. She quizzed why the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) had promised Ghanaians a free SHS on a universal basis but only first-year students are benefiting.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Fuseini says the NPP administration is crippling school heads and authorities by threatening them with dismissals should they attempt speaking on the challenges with the Free SHS program in their respective schools. He argues that though the program to some extent is improving the lives of Ghanaians, it has to a large extent, failed to honour its projected objective, to provide free education for all as it has narrowed it to just a section of SHS students.
“Don’t gag school administrators and headmasters for talking….it is not a secret, I’m telling you that there are under-gagging orders and people know that headmasters are petrified in speaking…..many of the headmasters cannot talk, even when some of your media persons go there with cameras they say ‘oh please, I don’t want to talk’. Matthew Opoku Prempeh is my colleague in this house, I know him but I’m saying that he doesn’t have to come and stand here and say that he will gag and all that but there are channels through which he can do that.”
“He should allow headmasters and school administrators to contribute and Ghanaians as a whole”, he told Host, Nana Aba Anamoah.
Education Minister, Matthew Opoku Prempeh’s comments have attracted criticisms from some Ghanaians, latest being Aide to Ex-President John Mahama, Joyce Bawa Mogtari. According to Mrs. Mogtari, NAPO's “comments are borne more out of arrogance and the realisation that the standards set by Professor Opoku-Agyemang at the Education Ministry are far higher for him to stand up to, let alone surpass.”
“What kind of arrogance would make a trainee-Minister who is still struggling to understand the mandate of his office, declare that a world-renowned and experienced educationist does not know anything about education?” she wondered in a statement.
Mrs Mogtari who currently serves as the special-aide to former President John Mahama was of the opinion that Napo's attack was a reflection of the what pertains in the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“One cannot help but recognise that such arrant disrespect for professional women, is not an individual character trait of Opoku Prempeh, but appears to be a reflection of the ruling party, for if not, President Nana Akufo-Addo would have ensured that his Minister withdraws his embarrassing insult, and apologises to the former Minister.”
