The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has clarified that the party did not promise automatic government appointments for all young people.
According to Asiedu Nketia, the NDC job promise is focused on skills training and entrepreneurship support.
He disclosed that youth unemployment remains the country’s biggest challenge; however, he noted that there is a misunderstanding of the NDC’s campaign message.
Speaking to supporters in the Nandom Constituency on Wednesday, May 20, Asiedu Nketia explained, “It is true that when we were campaigning, the biggest problem in the country then and is still the biggest problem now is youth unemployment. So we promise that when we come into power, we will implement initiatives that will address the unemployment issue”.
“Some of you have interpreted that to mean that everybody will be given an appointment letter to work in government service. Please, that is not what we mean,” he said.
“What we mean is that when a country is growing, it gets to a point where other means of employment become more rewarding than government work,” he said.
“So what the government does is to train the youth in their talent, their respective talents, and provide them with facilities and seed capital to start businesses that will grow the economy.”
He further added, “But we seem to be thinking that if you are not given a government appointment letter, then you don’t have employment. Please, it is not going to be possible for the government to write appointment letters for every youth in the country”.
“That was why when we were campaigning, we told you that you don’t need a certificate to be able to work. And so we will implement policies like the free apprenticeship program, like the entrepreneurship program, the youth in enterprise program, and then we will implement the 1 million quotas program,” he added.
In related news, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, the Member of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu and Minister for Energy, has told disgruntled supporters of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) to exercise patience with the government.
The Yapei Kusawgu MP acknowledged growing expectations for jobs and economic support but urged supporters not to resort to violence.
Speaking to NDC party faithful during the NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah’s thank-you tour in the Savannah Region, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor stated, “I will plead with you to be patient with the government. We are barely two years in office. We know you need jobs, we know you need businesses”.
John Jinapor highlighted that the Mahama government has already begun implementing interventions to support farmers and improve livelihoods.
He stated, “This year, I have funded the purchase of 2,000 bags of fertiliser and 2,000 bags of weedicides to help farmers. So please exercise patience for the party”.
“If we are sharing while in office, it is just a matter of time, everybody will get some, but when we use violence, and it lands the party in opposition, it will be our loss,” he added.
