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The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) running mate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has emphasized how the Free Senior High School (SHS) program has revolutionized Ghanaian education for girls.
Dr. Prempeh mentioned that the policy has helped more than 2.5 million students, with a notable rise in female enrollment, according to data from the education research group Africa Education Watch.
He emphasized the necessity for Ghanaians to back leadership dedicated to meaningful projects in the run-up to the general elections on December 7 at the Matthew Opoku Prempeh Hostel’s unveiling on Tuesday, November 19, at the University of Professional Studies in Accra.
“Ghana is at the crossroads. We want people, or we should elect people, who will make great transformative leadership. Not people who will come and get our vote because they just want our vote. Not voting for sentimental reasons because we live within reality. We don’t live within sentiments. We don’t live within clichés. We live in the practical aspect of day-to-day transformation in people’s lives.
“People forget that nearly 100,000 students every year couldn’t go to school because our end certificate was BECE. And they have passed and couldn’t go to secondary school. And when you finish BECE, the certificate doesn’t qualify you to apply for any job in the country. And these 100,000 students were left out of our country’s system. Free SHS has transformed their lives.”
Dr. Kofi Ohene Konadu, the chairman of the UPSA University Council, praised Dr. Prempeh’s enormous contributions to the growth of the university.
He gave special recognition to Dr. Prempeh for helping to finance and build the modern establishment, which is today known as the “Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh Hostel.”
“Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh’s tenure as Minister for Education was marked by a relentless commitment to expanding access to education and creating an enabling environment for learning. This hostel stands as a testament to his dedication to improving infrastructure for tertiary education,” Dr. Konadu stated.
It is anticipated that the new hostel would house more than 5,000 students, alleviating housing shortages on campus and creating an atmosphere that supports academic success. The importance of strong leadership in accomplishing such milestones was emphasized by Dr. Konadu.
“Your support for this project was not just about funding, but ensuring that tertiary institutions like UPSA could meet the growing demand for quality education,” he added.
These remarks were repeated by Professor Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey, the Vice Chancellor of UPSA, who praised Dr. Prempeh’s lasting contributions to Ghana’s educational system.
“Dr. Prempeh’s impact on Ghana’s education is indelible. From the implementation of the Free Senior High School policy to enhancing the infrastructure of institutions like ours, his leadership continues to transform lives. Naming this hostel after him is our way of immortalizing his contributions,” said Professor Amartey.
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh received this accolade three years after UPSA awarded him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in July 2021. He was honored for his outstanding leadership and commitment to improving education in Ghana.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
