A former Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier General Joseph Nunoo Mensah (Rtd), has criticised the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s manifesto promise to implement free tertiary education for first year students, citinewsroom.com has reported.

He questioned the necessity and effectiveness of the policy in Ghana.

In his speech during a stakeholder engagement at O’Reilly Senior High School on January 15, 2024, Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah questioned, “Why pay for them? What is the essence of tertiary education? What is the use? You don’t have to pay for it. Come on, it’s not necessary.

“If someone wants to go to tertiary, the parents should afford it because you don’t need them anyway. I don’t need them. They finish, then they will be roaming about in Accra finding jobs. They can’t even produce solar energy to power lights for us. They can’t do anything, so, don’t waste our money on them."

The retired general further disclosed that he intends to communicate his views to President John Dramani Mahama, though he expressed doubts that his advise will be heeded.

“I’m going to tell President John Dramani Mahama it’s not necessary. But they won’t listen to me because they are politicians; I’m not,” he said.

The former Chief of Defence Staff also condemned the Free Senior High School policy, suggesting that parents who could afford it should have been allowed to bear the cost while those unable to pay should have sought scholarships.

“It’s a wrong policy. They should have encouraged parents to pay. Those who cannot pay should have applied for scholarships,” he suggested.