Dr. Prince Hamid Armah, Deputy Minister for Works and Housing, has taken a critical stance against the National Democratic Congress (NDC) following their recent proposal to offer free academic user fees for first-year students in public universities.

This announcement, made during the launch of their youth manifesto which coincided with the global celebration of Youth Day, marks a notable departure from the party’s previous stance on education policy.

Historically, the NDC advocated for a means-tested approach to the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, arguing that only students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds should receive free education.

This position was intended to ensure that the benefits of free education were directed towards those most in need.

However, the party’s latest proposal to extend free education to all first-year university students appears to contradict this earlier approach, raising concerns about policy coherence.

Dr. Armah’s critique highlights a perceived inconsistency in the NDC’s education policy.

He pointed out that John Dramani Mahama, who had previously declared that if he were allocated GH¢2 billion, he would not invest it in free secondary education, is now advocating for free university education.

This apparent reversal has led to questions about the logic and consistency of Mahama’s stance on education funding.

Moreover, Dr. Armah expressed concerns about the feasibility of the NDC’s proposal. Offering free education only for the first year of university, without a clear plan for funding the remaining years, could create financial uncertainty for students and their families.

This piecemeal approach might undermine the goal of making higher education more accessible and sustainable in the long term.

As the debate continues, Dr. Armah’s comments underscore the challenges and complexities of formulating a comprehensive and effective education policy that balances accessibility with financial sustainability.

The NDC’s new proposal will likely be scrutinized further as the country approaches the next election.