During the 2020/2021 academic year, an astounding revelation unfolded regarding the expenditure of approximately 68.5 million Ghana cedis on photocopying past examination questions for the flagship Free Senior High School program of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), led by President Nana Akufo-Addo. This disclosure emerged during a parliamentary session.
Ashiaman’s Member of Parliament, Ernest Norgbe, brought this issue to light during an interview on the Adekyee Mu Nse morning show on Ahotor 92.3 FM, hosted by Citizen Kofi Owusu in Accra. Norgbe emphasized the consistent abuse of the procurement act in approving this contract. Notably, this contract, devoid of any emergency context, was awarded through a sole-source arrangement to a company, raising concerns about the substantial sum allocated, which could have been redirected to more critical projects.
Norgbe questioned the government’s decision not to collaborate with the West Africa Examination Council, the custodians of these academic documents. Looking ahead, he announced that the minority group in parliament plans to table a motion for a bipartisan investigation into this questionable contract, lacking proper justification for the significant expenditure of 6.8 million cedis on photocopying past examination questions.
In a separate development, Norgbe expressed shock and dismay over the stance of the president and the majority members in parliament who resisted the passage of the LGBTQ+ BILL. This bill had successfully navigated parliamentary stages of amendments and input, awaiting the president’s assent. Norgbe criticized the president’s statement that he was awaiting the Supreme Court’s interpretation before giving assent, deeming it unfounded.
Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, a co-sponsor of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, deemed the attempt by Civil Society Organisations to challenge the newly passed bill as premature. He asserted that until the bill receives presidential assent, there is no basis for it to be challenged in the Supreme Court.
For any further information, you can reach AYM Kukah at kukahalexander7@gmail.com.
