Two student leaders from the University of Ghana recently sat down with GTV Breakfast to discuss the key points from a media engagement event hosted by former President John Dramani Mahama.
Livingston Agyeman, a Political Science with Philosophy student, highlighted several takeaways from Mahama’s remarks. Firstly, Livingston Agyeman noted that Mahama’s proposal for a “24-hour economy” – a deliberate government intervention to boost local industries, increase productivity, and create more employment opportunities.
Secondly, Mahama’s promise to guarantee “value for money” and examine the present government’s procurement procedures was brought up by Agyeman.
Former President Mahama had previously called for greater competitive procurement and attacked the present administration’s use of sole-source contracts.
Livingston Agyeman noted Mahama’s stance that he would not act as a “corruption clearing agent” for government officials charged with corruption, stating they would have to face the consequences on their own.
The President of the University of Ghana’s TESCON (Tertiary Students’ Confederacy), Appiah Dankwa Prince, also known as Political Prince, also commented on Mahama’s remarks.
He disputed Mahama’s assertions that he was the driving force behind the free Senior High School (SHS) policy, pointing out that many pupils were still obliged to pay fees when the “progressively free SHS” was implemented by the previous NDC government while he was a student.
Prince also defended the current government’s approach to media engagement, arguing that it is not solely the President’s responsibility, but also falls under the purview of appointed ministers, such as the Minister of Information.
The two student leaders’ lively conversation shed light on the various viewpoints on the most important national policy challenges facing Ghana and how the younger generation of Ghanaians connects with the former President’s vision.
