Flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has pledged to introduce free university education if elected by party del
Flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has pledged to introduce free university education if elected by party delegates and subsequently by Ghanaians as President.
The former Education Minister said the policy is feasible, noting that Ghana has already implemented the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme, which he described as even more costly because it includes feeding students.
“If we can provide free education at the secondary level, where students are fed, why can’t we extend it to the tertiary level where students only pay academic fees?” he asked.
Addressing delegates at Effiduase during his Ashanti Regional campaign tour, Dr. Adutwum said extending free education to the tertiary level would be a major priority under his administration.
He argued that the NPP, having pioneered the Free SHS policy, must take the next bold step to ensure universal access to higher education.
He noted that many Free SHS beneficiaries are unable to continue to university due to financial constraints, stressing the need to protect the country’s investment in secondary education.
Dr. Adutwum further warned that the NPP risks losing young voters to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), which is currently paying first-year fees for students in public universities.
“As the party that boldly implemented Free SHS, a policy others doubted, we must again lead the way by committing more resources to build the human capital of this country,” he said.
The Bosomtwe MP also tied his push for free university education to his personal story of growing up in poverty as the son of a cocoa farmer, saying his struggles shaped his passion for pro-poor policies.
He appealed to delegates for their support to lead the party and implement what he described as bold, people-centered policies aimed at lifting households out of poverty and driving sustainable development.
Dr. Adutwum also outlined a number of welfare initiatives he plans to introduce to improve the livelihoods of party grassroots if elected flagbearer and ultimately President.