Deputy Minister in charge of tertiary education, Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa says the opposition New Patriotic Party cannot be given the credit for the commencement of President John Mahama’s free SHS education.

According to him, his NPP friends on Facebook, a social media platform have been pestering him to give credit to the NPP and its flagbearer Nana Addo since they came up with the initiative.

Speaking during a panel discussion on Radio Gold’s Alhaji and Alhaji, Hon Ablakwa said there is no way the NDC will give credit to the NPP; adding “if there is any credit, it will rather be given to the 1992 constitution.

“It is not an invention of Nana Akufo Addo, twenty years before he (Nana Addo) made free SHS a slogan; wanting to use that to get to the Flagstaff House, it has been stated in the 1992 constitution…they claim we are shameless and that we should give Nana Akufo Addo the credit; give him the credit for what? How about those who promulgated the constitution? It is our tradition; the NDC tradition that promulgated the 1992 constitution and so who should be given the credit? Unbelievable…if we are looking for whom to give credit to, we should be looking for the 1992 Constitution; Article 25:1b…moreover, our programme is different from theirs; ours is progressive”.

The Deputy Minister was speaking on the free SHS policy of the ruling government which officially commenced on Thursday, 17 September 2015.

Over Three Thousand day students are expected to benefit from the programme, which would abolish tuition fees in public schools.