Nana Oduro Panin Burikuran, Chief of New Edubiase in the Ashanti Region, has praised the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy introduced by the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), describing it as a transformative intervention in Ghana's education sector.

He highlighted the policy’s significant role in alleviating the financial burden on parents and guardians and urged Ghanaians to safeguard it against potential cancellation by future governments.

Nana Oduro made these remarks during a visit by the NPP Vice- Vice-Presidential candidate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, to the New Edubiase Chief’s Palace as part of his campaign tour in New Edubiase, Obuasi East, and Obuasi West.

According to the Chief, since Free SHS is an NPP initiative, the best way to protect the policy is to keep the NPP in government.

He shared his personal experience of how the Free SHS programme had benefited his household and expressed the need to ensure its continuation for the benefit of future generations.

He also commended the NPP government for undertaking numerous developmental projects in the area, including road construction and the expansion of school and hospital infrastructure.

During the tour, Dr. Prempeh emphasized the NPP’s commitment to national progress, particularly in expanding access to secondary education.

"Through the flagship Free SHS and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) policy, we’ve provided education to over 5.7 million young adults," he said.

He also cited other government achievements, including the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) and the stable supply of electricity over the past eight years, as proof of the NPP’s leadership.

Dr. Prempeh, in response, thanked the Chief and the people of New Edubiase for their warm reception.

He called on them to vote for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and George Oduro to help the NPP reclaim the New Edubiase parliamentary seat, which they lost in the last elections.

The campaign tour also saw Dr. Prempeh visit Obuasi East and West, rallying support for NPP’s parliamentary candidates, Dr. Patrick Boakye-Yiadom for Obuasi East and Kweku Kwarteng for Obuasi West.

Speaking at a massive rally in Obuasi, he contrasted the NPP's development achievements with what he termed the NDC’s neglect of critical infrastructure during its tenure, including the collapse of Anglo Gold Ashanti and the failure to maximize local benefits from the region’s gold resources.

In contrast, Dr. Prempeh pointed to the NPP's success in revitalizing Anglo Gold Ashanti and other transformative projects as evidence of the party’s commitment to the area's development

The warm reception in New Edubiase indicated strong local support for the NPP and its parliamentary candidate, George Oduro.