The Vice President and Flagbearer of the NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, says the remarkable impact of Free SHS in the North and, essentially, in Ghana would not have been possible had former President John Dramani Mahama remained in office.

Addressing a huge crowd in Jirapa as part of his campaign tour of the Upper West Region, Dr. Bawumia highlighted the significant impact Free SHS has had on many homes in the North since its introduction in 2017, adding that in spite of the obvious benefits to the North and the nation, former President Mahama, whom he said ought to have known better due to his background, kicked against it.

"I asked John Mahama to name just one social intervention; baako pe, he couldn't name."

"Former President Mahama said if he had the money, he wouldn't use it for free SHS education. He said it was not a priority, but we have brought it, and the people of the North and Ghanaians are benefitting," Dr. Bawumia said to loud cheers from the crowd.

"We knew, and I knew, that where we had the poorest people in the North, we needed Free SHS education, and we brought Free SHS to the North and Ghana and our children are attending in their numbers. The total enrollment for senior high school has increased from 800,000 to 1.4 million in 7 years. It tells you that our people were dying for free SHS education action."

"Today, the five northern regions have the highest enrollment into senior high school education. But this is what John Mahama said we should not do. He said if he had the money, he would not do it."

Dr. Bawumia also criticized former President Mahama for using SADA to exploit the North.

"He set up SADA, and we all saw what happened. He claimed he invested millions of dollars, but we all know what happened. There is no single SADA project to show, and I have challenged him to show us one, and he has not..."

Dr. Bawumia added that unlike Mahama, who failed the people as President, he, as Vice President, has facilitated several policies and visible development projects to the North and Ghana.