The next National Democratic Congress (NDC) government would create sustainable jobs to give the Ghanaian youth dignified living, former President John Dramani Mahama, the party’s flagbearer for the 2024 general election has assured.
Mr Mahama at the launch of the NDC’s youth manifesto in Accra yesterday said job creation remains the topmost priority for the next NDC government as the unemployment situation in the country was becoming frustrating.
“The scarcity of job opportunities compels many young individuals to resort to low-paying informal work or seek opportunities abroad, exacerbating the brain drain that hampers our national development.
“This reality perpetuates inequalities and undermines social stability, as the potentials of our youth remains untapped so we’ll create sustainable well-paying jobs for you,” he told the gathering.
On the theme “Empowering tomorrow’s voices for the future” the launch of the NDC’s youth manifesto coincides with the International Youth Day on the “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development,” the occasion brought together youth organisers of the party across the country.
According to the former President, the theme rightly feeds into the NDC’s digitalisation agenda which is vital to the implementation of the 24-hour economy policy.
The previous NDC government, former President Mahama said demonstrated commitment to giving the youth digital skills by establishing the Accra Digital Centre to facilitate the provision of same.
In the view of the NDC flagbearer, the 24-hour economy policy which would enable one job to be shared across three shifts and employ three persons, and provide job opportunities for three workers instead of one, remain the game changer for Ghana’s economy.
“Dear Ghanaian youth, the 8-hour work system is woefully inadequate to generate the production, productivity and well-paying jobs needed to revive Ghana’s bankrupt economy. It is also inadequate to produce enough jobs for you,” he stated.
The former president reiterated that for the policy to thrive, the government would invest in security and public safety measures, including recruiting additional personnel and enhancing street lighting to promote nightlife economic activities.
Noting that extraordinary times require extraordinary interventions for exceptional results, Mr Mahama said Ghana was experiencing extraordinary hardships and the 24-hour economy initiative is the best and most extraordinary pathway to generating the decent and well-paying jobs the youth have been waiting for.
He said the next NDC government was determined to provide the necessary incentives, such as favourable tax measures and cheaper and more reliable power as well as provide financial support through the Ghana EXIM Bank, oil revenues and the Women’s Development Bank, among others.
“My young Ghanaians dare to dream and dare to achieve. Our dreams can transform our future, our communities, and the world at large. You are the catalysts for positive change, and through your inspiring actions and determination, we can bring about the transformative change that our world desperately needs. Your vote as a young Ghanaian is not just a choice but a powerful tool for shaping the future of our country,” he said.
The General Secretary of the party, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, for his part said the destiny of the country lied in the hands of the youth and they must not shed the responsibility to salvage the country from the hands of the current government.
The state of Ghana, he said, has never been this worse stressing that the NDC has the right personnel and well thought through policies to return the country unto the path of progress.
The NDC’s National Youth Organiser, George Opare Addo, said though the NPP government was elected to solve the problems of the country, it has rather become the problem Ghanaians have to solve and the only solution is showing them the exit on December 7, 2024.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI