The flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has announced a significant policy shift regarding national service.

He is stating that it will no longer be compulsory for graduates if he is elected President in the upcoming December elections.

He outlined that graduates will now have the freedom to choose whether to undertake national service or otherwise.

Speaking during a national address at the University of Professional Studies, Accra, on Wednesday, February 7, Dr. Bawumia emphasised that this adjustment will facilitate easier recruitment processes for companies, as they can directly approach various tertiary institutions for hiring purposes.

"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."

"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.

Dr Bawumia has also pledged to abolish the controversial levy on electronic transactions, commonly known as the E-Levy, if elected into power.

New Patriotic Party’s presidential candidate explained that he wants to make Ghana a cashless economy as soon as possible, not only to foster economic growth but fight corruption.

However, to achieve this goal, people need to be encouraged to use more electronic channels of payment, he stated.

“To accomplish this, there will be no taxes on digital payments under my administration. The e-levy will therefore be abolished,” Dr Bawumia announced.

The e-levy, implemented on Sunday, May 1, 2022, imposes a 1.5% levy on various electronic transactions, including mobile money payments, bank transfers, merchant payments, and inward remittances.

However, transactions up to GH¢100 per day are exempted from this levy.