New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Mahamudu Bawumia has said "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," he said on Wednesday night, 7 January 2024. 

He said: "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," Vice President Bawumia explained.

Currently, every Ghanaian graduate is expected, by law, to undertake a year's service to the nation after school.

It is a requirement for employment in the piblic sector.