Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, a flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has intensified his nationwide campaign ahead of the party’s presidential primary scheduled for 31 January, with visits to the Agotime-Ziope, Ho West and Ho Central constituencies in the Volta Region.
Addressing party delegates and supporters during the tour, Dr Adutwum projected himself as a transformational leader with what he described as a clear formula to reform Ghana and reposition the country for sustainable development.
He said the next phase of national progress would require bold leadership, innovative thinking and deliberate policies aimed at reducing poverty and inequality.
According to the NPP flagbearer hopeful, Ghana’s current education system places excessive emphasis on rote learning, a situation he said limits creativity, innovation and problem-solving abilities among students.
He argued that the country must deliberately shift towards an educational model that nurtures critical thinking and practical skills if it is to remain competitive in a rapidly changing global economy.
Dr Adutwum noted that an education system that produces critical thinkers would better prepare young people to create solutions, drive innovation and contribute meaningfully to national development.
He stressed that empowering learners with analytical and entrepreneurial skills would ultimately translate into job creation, productivity growth and sustained economic progress.
He proposed the introduction of a “Patriotic Health Insurance” scheme aimed at expanding access to quality and affordable healthcare for all Ghanaians. According to him, the initiative would complement existing health interventions by removing financial barriers that prevent many citizens from seeking timely medical care.
On the economic front, he announced plans to introduce targeted grants for businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, as a strategy to stimulate entrepreneurship, boost productivity, and create sustainable jobs, especially for the youth.
Dr Adutwum further stated that when elected as flagbearer he will introduce a “Patriotic Scholarship” initiative, designed to support children from vulnerable and deprived backgrounds.
He explained that the scholarship scheme would ensure that brilliant but needy students are not denied educational opportunities because of their socio-economic circumstances.
He pledged to pursue free university education if given the opportunity, stressing that higher education should be a right and not a privilege reserved for a few. He argued that no Ghanaian child with the required academic ability should be denied access to university education due to financial challenges.
To further ease the burden on students and their families, Dr Adutwum proposed empowering District Assemblies to construct hostels at tertiary institutions. Under this plan, students would receive free accommodation in hostels funded by their respective districts, a move he said would significantly reduce the cost of university education and promote equity across regions.
He called for internal transformation within the New Patriotic Party (NPP), insisting that the party must renew itself to better reflect and respond to the aspirations of Ghanaians.
He urged members of the party to be circumspect in their choice of a flagbearer ahead of the next presidential election. He noted that the decision delegates make would not only determine the future direction of the NPP but also have far-reaching implications for the country as a whole.
“We are running a holistic campaign that focuses on people, opportunity and prosperity,” he said, while appealing to party faithful in the Volta Region to rally behind his bid. He called for unity and collective effort, urging members to work together to win what he described as the fight against poverty.
Sompaonline.com