Ghanaians Are Not Surprised By NDC’s Poor Management of Free SHS – Dr Mahamudu Bawumia

Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has accused the NDC government of mismanaging the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, saying Ghanaians are not surprised because the NDC never believed in the programme from the start.

Speaking at the NPP’s National Delegates Conference at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Saturday, 3rd October 2026, Dr. Bawumia said the flagship education policy introduced by the NPP government is deteriorating under the Mahama administration.

Addressing over 7,000 delegates who had gathered to elect new national executives and rally behind his 2028 bid, the former Vice President said the NDC’s handling of Free SHS has exposed its lack of commitment to the policy.

“Ghanaians are not surprised by the NDC’s poor management of Free SHS; they never believed in it,” Dr. Bawumia told the charged crowd.

According to him, the government has failed to fulfil its promise to abolish the double-track system while allowing feeding and other conditions in Senior High Schools to worsen.

Dr. Bawumia used the conference to launch a blistering attack on what he described as a litany of failed promises by the NDC. He described several NDC campaign pledges as “scams”, including the promise to increase cocoa prices to GH¢6,500, automatic posting of teachers and nurses, cancellation of teacher licensure exams, and payments to customers of collapsed financial institutions.

He also took a swipe at the NDC’s flagship 24-hour economy policy, saying the promised jobs of “one job, three shifts, three people” have not materialised and have now turned into “24-hour demolition of buildings for so-called 24-hour markets” – a reference to the recent demolition at La Pleasure Beach and other beachfronts.

Dr. Bawumia further accused the government of abandoning the Agenda 111 hospital programme, saying “apparently, this government prefers 24-hour markets to hospitals”.

The conference, which also saw delegates approve 14 constitutional amendments including one that makes the flagbearer the leader of the party, is seen as the NPP’s official rallying point for the 2028 general election with Dr. Bawumia as its presidential candidate.