NDC Pledges Free Tuition For First-Year University Students As It Launches Youth Manifesto

• The National Democratic Congress has promised tuition-free education for first-year students in public universities
• The opposition party has said it will focus on making higher education more accessible to needy Ghanaians
• Africa Education Watch's senior programme officer backed the proposal as a good intervention

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has promised tuition-free education for first-year students in public universities.

According to the party, this policy is part of a broader set of reforms aimed at making higher education accessible for all, most especially for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

During the party’s youth manifesto launch on Monday, August 12, 2024, NDC flagbearer John Mahama said that access to quality education would improve from the basic to the tertiary level.

He also highlighted other key proposals, including its “24-hour economy policy.

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This aims to stimulate economic activity around the clock, potentially creating more job opportunities.

“We will create an enabling environment for young people to thrive and lay a foundation for prosperous Ghanaians, not just a few."

“We will increase access to quality education from the basic and second cycle to tertiary levels as well as affordable healthcare and numerous job creation programmes."

Africa Education Watch's senior programme officer, Divine Kpe, said this pledge was a move in the right direction in comments to YEN.com.gh.

"Averagely, about 50 percent to 60 percent of students offered admission into tertiary schools do not honor their admission due to financial constraints."

He, however, noted that policy needed some targeting to be more efficient.

At the same event, Edmond Kombat, a former president of the University of Ghana Students Representative Council, urged young Ghanaians to vote for Mahama and the NDC.

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He said the economic situation only benefits people with ties to the Akufo-Addo lineage.

Kombat assured that a future John Mahama administration would be inclusive and have the ordinary Ghanaian at heart.

NDC rejoices after Airbus scandal is resolved

YEN.com.gh reported that Mahama has been cleared of any wrongdoing in the Airbus scandal of 2020.

Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng noted that the former president's brother, Samuel Mahama, was also cited in the scandal.

The National Democratic Congress welcomed the findings as vindication of Mahama's long-held innocence.

"Seven and half years after leaving office, John Mahama remains squeaky clean with unblemished integrity. Certainly, John Mahama is the incorruptible leader Ghana needs to win the fight against corruption."

Proofread by Berlinda Entsie, journalist and copy editor at YEN.com.gh

Source: YEN.com.gh