The government has described, claims by former President Mahama as false, that public High Schools have not been fumigated since the introduction of the Free SHS Programme.
Mr. Mahama, who is seeking re-election for the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), criticized the Akufo-Addo administration for failing to fumigate public senior high schools.
He said the failure has led to complaints from students about bed bugs infestation.
Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, November 5, 2018, said the claims by the former President are untrue.
“It is worthy of note that Former President Mahama has never supported the Free SHS idea and has always attempted to demonize it at every opportunity.
This is not the first comment aimed at undermining the programme that he has made, and so we are not surprised. But for the avoidance of doubt, we want to state for the records that 678 senior high schools have been fumigated†he said.
The minister stated the fumigation exercise was completed last week.
It was disclosed by the Minister that the fumigation exercise took place in 120 schools in the Ashanti Region, 80 in the Bono-Ahafo Region, 70 in the Central Region and 97 schools in the Eastern Region.
The rest are 50 schools in the Greater Accra region, 52 in the Northern Region, 34 in the Upper East, 21 in the Upper West, 100 in the Volta Region and 54 schools in the Western Region.
Oppong Nkrumah said there are no records available of the last time all senior high schools in Ghana were fumigated comprehensively even under the tenure of former President Mahama like it has been done today.
He urged the former President to stop undermining the excellent programme.
“This administration thereby encourages the former President that when it comes to state and national matters, it will be best if he speaks in the national interest, and speaks to facts, “he told the press.
Oppong Nkrumah said “The Akufo-Addo administration remains committed to seeing that the Free SHS program succeeds. We will not leave any stone unturned in achieving this objectiveâ€.
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