The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has announced a new initiative to provide free tertiary education for the children of Ghana’s cocoa farmers if elected President in the upcoming December 7 general elections.

This initiative is set to replace the existing Senior High School (SHS) cocoa scholarship programme, which has become redundant with the implementation of Free SHS.

Addressing farmers at a Farmers’ Day celebration in Jocubu in the Odotobri constituency of the Ashanti Region, Dr. Bawumia laid out the details of this plan, emphasising the government’s commitment to prioritising higher education for rural communities.

He explained that the funds currently directed towards SHS scholarships would instead be redirected to cover tertiary education costs for cocoa farmers’ children.

“Initially, COCOBOD provided scholarships for the children of cocoa farmers to attend Senior High Schools. However, with the introduction of the free Senior High School (SHS) policy, every child can now attend SHS at no cost,” Dr. Bawumia stated.

He added, “As a result, the government plans to reallocate the funds that were previously used to cover the fees for cocoa farmers’ children. Starting next year, COCOBOD will take over the responsibility of paying the fees for cocoa farmers.”

The move would allow the children of cocoa farmers to pursue university and vocational training, a step that Bawumia believes will empower Ghana’s agricultural communities and expand economic opportunities.

This commitment to free tertiary education, he argued, provides meaningful, long-term support to families whose work sustains Ghana’s leading export industry, setting a new vision for education in Ghana.