Are you part of the transitional team? – Abass Nurudeen chides Seth Terkper over Free SHS comment

The Ashanti Regional Communications Officer of the NDC, Abass Nurudeen, has launched a scathing attack on former Finance Minister Seth Terkper over remarks he made regarding the Free SHS policy.

Seth Terkper, in an interview on Accra-based TV3 on December 14, 2024, suggested that the Free SHS policy must be limited to day students across the country.

Using a case study of European countries, Seth Terkper said Ghana must also look at implementing the policy just as it is being done in Europe.

He said, “Why don’t we follow their examples? What makes us think that we should support Free SHS unfettered? Unfettered in the sense that the government takes every cost.”

Responding to Terkper’s comments, Abass Nurudeen harshly criticised him, saying his statements could create disaffection among Ghanaians towards John Dramani Mahama.

According to him, Terkper erred in making such controversial statements, especially when the party had made efforts to assure Ghanaians that it would not cancel the policy but rather focus on securing funding for its progress and sustainability.

Questioning the authority on which Terkper made such comments, Nurudeen said, “We have noticed that some of our leaders have begun harboring negative mindsets, and one such leader is Seth Terkper. After all the efforts of John Dramani Mahama, including pledging to the Asantehene to refute claims that his government would cancel Free SHS, why would you make such comments about the policy when Mahama hasn't even assumed office? Who sent you? Are you part of the transitional team?”

He stated that Terkper's refusal to recruit unemployed individuals, despite the available vacancies in various state institutions, among other factors, contributed to their defeat.

Nurudeen, accusing Terkper of not contributing to the party’s emphatic victory in the recent general elections, blamed the NDC's defeat in 2016 and their subsequent 8-year stay in opposition on Terkper’s decision-making during his time as Finance Minister.

“You are the reason we [NDC] went into opposition in 2016 because you opposed calls for job recruitment, even when there were vacancies. You didn’t help any NDC member but instead awarded hefty contracts to Bryan Acheampong. If, by God’s grace, we have won power despite claims from some ruling party elements not to hand over to us, why would you make such statements?”

He added, “What pains me the most is that he didn’t help or contribute during the campaign. We want him to understand that the grassroots are very serious because the power we have now came at an ultimate price. Four of our people were killed and others injured, so we will not sit aloof and allow people like Seth Terkper to come and destroy all our efforts.”

Nurudeen, issuing a warning, stated that Terkper would be treated as an outsider if he makes comments that undermine the party's efforts and the goodwill it has gained from Ghanaians.

“If he acts like Koku Anyidoho, Allotey Jacobs, who were once leaders of our party and have been expelled, we will treat him like a hostile voice. We don’t want anyone to spoil the goodwill John Mahama has received from Ghanaians. Ato Forson and others contributed immensely and sacrificed for the party’s victory in the Ashanti Region at the time when you [Terkper] were just being an observer from the sidelines. We are begging Ghanaians to disregard such claims because it is not true,” he concluded.

Watch the video below: