The Minority Caucus in Parliament, led by Cassiel Ato Forson, has issued an ultimatum to government and the Majority Caucus, demanding that the long-promised Free SHS Bill be laid before Parliament within one week. 

Failure to do so, they assert, will render the Majority’s claims on the bill baseless and should be forever silenced.

This ultimatum follows persistent allegations by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who has repeatedly accused the Minority of opposing the Free SHS programme, both on the floor of Parliament and during press conferences. 

Addressing the press in Parliament on Wednesday, 26 June 2024, Mr. Afenyo-Markin's remarks intensified the ongoing debate.

Highlighting the issue, Minority Chief Whip Kwame Agbodza Governs chastised the Majority for allegedly misleading the public about a bill that has yet to be introduced in Parliament. 

He pointed to various newspaper publications echoing the Majority's claims and called for clarity.

In response, Deputy Majority Leader Frank Annor-Dompreh insisted that the Majority is merely seeking a clear stance from the Minority on the Free SHS Bill. 

This assertion was quickly rebutted by Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson, who accused Afenyo-Markin of deliberately trying to create public disaffection towards the Minority MPs. 

The Minority leader emphasised that both he, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and their flagbearer John Mahama have clearly communicated their position on Free SHS.

“The action of the Majority Leader, Afenyo-Markin, is a deliberate attempt to court public disaffection for Minority MPs as our stance on Free SHS has been made clear by myself, the NDC, and our flagbearer, John Mahama,” he stated. 

He then challenged the Majority Caucus and the government to present the Free SHS Bill within a week.