The next National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration shall establish a fintech growth fund with an initial seed capital of US$50 million to support indigenous companies in fostering the growth of the digital economy, former President John Dramani Mahama, has announced.
He said Ghanaians interested in coding will have the opportunity to participate in the ‘Coding for Employment Programme’ targeted to train one million coders with in-demand digital skills for the growing Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) ecosystems.
Former President Mahama was speaking at the closing of a two-day NDC LAB Policy Dialogue themed “Towards the 2024 Manifesto: Consolidating Our Thematic Group Policy Proposals”, from Thursday to Friday here at Peduase.
Mr Mahama, who is the flagbearer of the NDC for the December 7 general election, said the NDC, even in opposition, was working to hit the ground running on January 7, 2025, if elected.
“The novelty here is that we are doing this now as a government in waiting. We want to avoid being sworn into office on January 7, 2025 before commencing the preliminary phase of the work. Even out of government, we are spending resources to make this inventory hit the ground running.”
“We are ready. A lot is happening. I have the utmost confidence that very soon we (Ghanaians) shall see and have a feel of a manifesto that responds to the day-to-day needs of Ghanaians and leverages our shared aspirations and common identity when it is launched. A manifesto anchored on the people’s will. We are ready, and I am prepared to lead us in building the Ghana we want together,” he stated.
According to him, the enormity of the challenges “we face today and those we will uncover would mean that we must come into government with a clear plan and a strategy. We have the plan and strategy and know exactly what to do when sworn into office on January 7, 2025”.
President Mahama said that work had already begun collecting data on all abandoned and uncompleted public infrastructure to enable the NDC undertake an inventory and assessment of all uncompleted and abandoned government projects across all sectors, particularly health and educational facilities, and make annual budgetary allocations towards their upgrade and completion in order of priority.
He said the 24-hour economy was widely accepted by most Ghanaians and remains the surest way to achieve significant economic expansion, boost productivity, meet demand, curb unbridled imports and their attendant adverse effects on the economy, currency and, above all, generate well-paying jobs for the millions of people without employment.
The former President said he was encouraged by the positive feedback and input the NDC continue to receive on the proposal from compatriots in organised labour, academia, business, and industry.
“This fits in perfectly with the consultative approach informing our policy formulation. I can reveal the completion of a policy/strategy document on the proposal, which we will soon share with the people of Ghana. We remain determined to build the Ghana we want together with all Ghanaians to collectively reap the outcomes for our shared prosperity,” he added.
FROM MALIK SULLEMANA, PEDUASE- AKUAPEM