Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has lauded the Free Senior High School (FSHS) initiative for its success and significant impact on female education.
He noted that the program’s ability to enable more girls to attend secondary school has led to a shortage of housemaids in Accra.
During a community engagement event in Amasaman, Dr. Bawumia explained that the Free SHS initiative has empowered parents to prioritize their daughters’ education, resulting in a notable enrollment ratio of 100 boys to 106 girls.
Since the program’s inception, 5.7 million children have benefited, with secondary school enrollment increasing from 800,000 in 2016 to 1.4 million today.
The event included contributions from religious leaders, traditional rulers, artisans, and youth groups, forming part of Dr. Bawumia’s campaign to listen to community concerns.
He also discussed plans for electric buses to cut public transport costs by 40% and promised to generate 2,000 megawatts of solar power to reduce electricity bills by 50% in his first four years.
Additionally, Dr. Bawumia reviewed President Akufo-Addo’s initiatives, such as the expansion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and government digitization.
Looking ahead, he reiterated his intentions for a new tax system and proposed longer renewal periods for driver’s licenses to enhance security, alongside a pledge to install 50,000 CCTV cameras in urban areas to combat crime.
