By Pearl Amoako – 7/02/2024
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has unveiled a policy change regarding national service.
In his bid for the presidency in the upcoming December elections, Dr. Bawumia announced that national service will no longer be compulsory for graduates.
“National service will no longer be mandatory, and students will have the option to decide whether to do national service. This will also encourage companies to go to campuses for recruitment annually,” he said.
During a national address at the University of Professional Studies, Accra, Dr. Bawumia explained that this adjustment aims to streamline the recruitment process for companies.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, to help our youth get jobs, I believe it is time to rethink the concept of our current national service scheme. My government will propose that those who, after completion of their education, can secure jobs would be exempted from national service,” Dr. Bawumia stated.
In addition to this policy shift, Dr. Bawumia also pledged to abolish the controversial electronic transaction levy, commonly known as the E-Levy, if elected into power.
He expressed his strong desire to transform Ghana into a cashless economy to promote economic growth and combat corruption. However, he emphasized the need to encourage the use of electronic payment channels to achieve this goal.
“To accomplish this, there will be no taxes on digital payments under my administration. The e-levy will therefore be abolished,” Dr. Bawumia announced.
