Former President John Dramani Mahama has made mockery of government’s flagship educational programme of Free Senior High School (SHS) saying it has now turned into a traffic light, MyNewsGh.com reports.

Addressing party faithful as part of his 5-day tour of the Western Region in the in Ellembelle District, the former president observed that the current administration is seeking to cover its nonperformance with the excuse that free SHS has been provided to the citizenry.

“Today if you say you are hungry, they say we have given you free SHS; if drivers say they are unable to afford fuel, they say we have given you free SHS so keep quiet; farmers who complain they cannot purchase fertiliser for their cocoa, they say keep quiet we have given you free SHS…if you complain of anything they say we have given you free SHS”, he disclosed.

According to him, the free SHS has become an albatross on government and turned to a traffic light likening it to the rhyme of nursery children which has even affected second and third-year students.

“I will abolish the double-track traffic light when I come back in 2021 and ensure that all our wards attend school at the same time”, he said

Mr. Mahama underscored the need for government to prioritize its needs and ensure that there is development in other areas and not the Free SHS alone.

“It is written that man shall not live by bread alone…there is the need to prioritize so that government will not shirk its responsibilities hiding under free SHS”, he stressed.