Otabil's ‘Free SHS Tape’ Doctored

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Parent Category: Our Country

Category: Politics

Created on Wednesday, 31 October 2012 00:00

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Otabil's ‘Free SHS Tape’ Doctored

The General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church, Pastor Mensah Otabil has stated that his voice being circulated in the media in which he is alleged to have condemned the New Patriotic Party’s free SHS policy is “a collection of thoughts edited from a message shared several years ago and pieced together to create the impression that he is taking a stand on the current political debate on the issue of education.”

In a press statement signed by a Senior Associate Minister of the church, Rev. Kofi Okyere stated that “Pastor Otabil has not made any recent comment on the current debate on various educational policy alternatives.”

Below is the full statement

Our attention has been drawn to a series of publications and a tape, which has been widely circulated as Pastor Mensa Otabil’s reaction to the ongoing debate about education. We wish to submit the following:

Pastor Otabil has not made any recent comment on the current debate on various educational policy alternatives. Neither has he expressed open support for any party’s position on the matter.

The tape being circulated is a collection of thoughts edited from a message shared by Pastor Otabil several years ago and pieced together to create the impression that he is taking a stand on the current political debate on the issue of education.

Pastor Otabil agrees with the constitutional provision that every Ghanaian child is entitled to and the state must provide Free Compulsory Basic Education beginning from preschool to the Senior High School level. However each parent must take responsibility for the academic growth and quality of education that their child receives.

Pastor Otabil hopes that all Ghanaians will be challenged to focus on the financial empowerment of the average citizen as a long-term solution to the pro-poor policies being espoused by the various stakeholders in sectors like education, health and housing.

Source: The Ghanaian Observer