Debt left by Prof Jane Naana has been Cleared – Education Minister

The Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, said the education sector under former minister, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang was struggling with ‘huge’ debts

He however noted that the ‘huge outstanding bills’ left by the erstwhile NDC government has been cleared under the current Akuif-Addo administration.

Dr. Prempeh, who is also MP for Manhyia, made this revelation in a comprehensive statement to Parliament yesterday on education reforms and teacher education since the NPP government assumed office.
“Mr. Speaker…we met huge outstanding bills under the leadership of Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as Minister of Education, on key supplies for education service delivery. There was outstanding bill of approximately GHS 9m on Capitation Grant, GHS 4m on Feeding Grant for Special Schools, GHS 14m on exercise books to basic schools, and GHS 4m on the supply of school uniforms among many others.”

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He continued, “Moreover, there were delays in the disbursement of capitation and feeding grants for Special Schools affecting the effective operation of the schools. Within the period, Government has cleared all the arrears and ensured timely release of capitation and feeding grants for Special Schools”, he said to loud cheers from the Majority in the House.

Dr. Opoku Prempeh has on previous occasions criticized his predecessor, who is currently the running mate of the NDC ahead of the 2020 general elections for her handling of the Education Ministry, and it is expected that education will be one of the biggest battle grounds ahead of the elections as the two main parties tussle over their records in the sector.

The Education Minister at an inauguration ceremony of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GetFund) Mid-Ghana Office in Kumasi on August 4, argued that the NDC will abandon the NPP's flagship 'Free SHS' programme if they win power

“Now what do we hear around coming to elections? We all hear those who said they will cancel free SHS saying they are going to review it. If you introduce progressively free education and someone has done SHS free for three years, and you are a political opponent wanting to come into power, the only thing you have to tell Ghanaians is to continue, and not to review it.

“So in my mind, I take the review of NDC to mean when they come into power they are going to cancel free SHS.