Aspiring New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, says his vision to lead Ghana is anchored on a bold mission to eradicate poverty rather than merely reduce it.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on September 16, the former Education Minister drew inspiration from U.S. President Lyndon Johnson’s 1965 “War on Poverty,” which helped transform the American South into a more prosperous region.
“I want to focus on eradicating poverty. Johnson declared war on poverty and created the Great Society to lift up the poor while building opportunity for the middle class. Ghana must also take deliberate steps to create a strong middle class if we are serious about tackling poverty,” he said.
Dr. Adutwum argued that quality education is central to this agenda, warning that the financial pressures on families undermine the growth of a sustainable middle class.
“If the emerging middle class in Ghana spends their entire fortune educating their children in private schools, they have nothing left to save. That means private retirement options and long-term security do not exist,” the Bosomtwe MP explained.
He highlighted that while families pay for as many as 11 years of schooling from kindergarten to junior high, only about 30% of students can access quality education through private institutions.
“Why should 30% of our students only find suitable opportunities in private schools?” he asked, stressing that public education must be strengthened to give every child a fair chance.
Placing education at the center of his proposed war on poverty, Dr. Adutwum said eliminating barriers to quality learning will not only secure the future of young Ghanaians but also lay the foundation for a robust middle class, a stronger savings culture, and long term economic stability.
