Dr Mahamudu Bawumia
The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has praised the success of the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy, noting its significant impact on female education.
He pointed out that the policy has made it increasingly difficult to find housemaids for employment as more girls are now benefiting from the opportunity to attend secondary school.
Speaking during a community stakeholder engagement at Amasaman in the Ga West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region on Monday, Dr. Bawumia said the Free SHS programme has empowered many parents to prioritize their daughters’ education, with the policy providing a clear path to achieving these aspirations.
He emphasized that the enrolment ratio has reached 100 boys to 106 girls, indicating gender parity in education.
Dr. Bawumia revealed that, since its implementation, the Free SHS programme has benefitted 5.7 million children, with secondary school enrolment growing from 800,000 in 2016 to 1.4 million currently.
This marks an additional 600,000 students enrolled under the policy.
The stakeholder engagement at Amasaman, held at the ICGC Shalom Temple, brought together religious leaders, traditional rulers, artisans, and youth groups for open discussions.
The engagement is part of Dr. Bawumia’s constituency-focused campaign, designed to listen to the concerns of the people and chart a path forward.
During the event, the NPP flagbearer reaffirmed his commitment to reducing the cost of public transport by 40% through the introduction of electric buses.
He also pledged to cut electricity costs by 50% by generating 2,000 megawatts of solar power within the first four years of his administration.
Dr. Bawumia also highlighted policy interventions introduced under President Akufo-Addo’s leadership, including the Free SHS, the expansion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and the digitization of public sector services, such as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Passport Office, and Registrar General’s Department.
Looking ahead, Dr. Bawumia reiterated his plans to implement a new tax regime after granting tax amnesty to businesses and individuals.
He also proposed issuing 10-year driver’s licenses, renewable every five years, and promised to procure 50,000 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras for installation in district and regional capitals to bolster security and combat crime.
