Member of Parliament for Assin South and former Deputy Education Minister, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour has praised the achievements of the Akufo-Addo and Bawumia-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
In an exclusive interview with Lantam Papanko on GHOne TV’s State of Affairs, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour firmly rejected claims labeling the current administration as the worst in Ghana’s Fourth Republic, citing key achievements in education, infrastructure, and economic growth.
“President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia’s government is definitely not the worst government,” he asserted. “It is a very good government. Every administration has its flaws, but that does not diminish the monumental achievements and legacies of this government.”
Highlighting the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy as a groundbreaking initiative, Rev. Fordjour said, “For the first time, every Ghanaian child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to access secondary education for free. This monumental policy has become a shining light in sub-Saharan Africa, inspiring other countries to follow suit. It bridges the gap between the rich and the poor, offering equal opportunities for success.”
On infrastructure, he credited the NPP government as the administration that has constructed more roads than any other government in Ghana’s Fourth Republic. He also noted improvements in health infrastructure and education, citing an increase in literacy among Primary 2 pupils as a testament to the government’s impact.
“In 2015, only 2% of Primary 2 pupils could read at grade level, but that figure has risen to 38%. While there’s room for improvement, this is a significant leap forward,” he explained.
Rev. Fordjour also defended the government’s handling of the economy amidst global challenges like COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war. “No economy escaped these realities, yet we made substantial progress. We took growth from where it was and managed to stabilize key sectors despite the setbacks.”
While acknowledging criticisms of certain governance aspects, he maintained that such critiques should not overshadow the administration’s successes. “There will always be areas people feel could have been handled better, but the achievements in education, infrastructure, and other sectors speak for themselves,” he concluded.
