Dr Joshua Jebuntie Zaato, a Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, has slammed the John Mahama government over its failure to deliver the 24-Hour Economy Initiative and the Women’s Development Bank.
The Political Science Lecturer criticised the NDC government for the way and manner in which it is going about its flagship programs.
According to Dr Zaato, the 24-Hour Economy Initiative is still a mirage, and the Women’s Development Bank is scam.
Speaking on TV3 Key Points, Dr Joshua Jebuntie Zaato stated, “The 24-hour economy is still a mirage, the Women Development Bank is a scam, that is why these issues (unemployment) are escalating”.
Dr Zaato made this remark while reacting to the new labour reports released by the Ghana Statistical Service.
Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, the Government Statistician, has revealed that despite the strong employment numbers, job quality remains a major challenge.
The Government Statistician revealed that more than two-thirds of employed persons were in vulnerable employment, especially women, rural workers and persons in Agriculture.
Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, on Thursday, December 18, stated, “The key message here is that jobs are increasing, but the unemployment rate is not falling in a sustained way. New job creation is still not fast enough to absorb new entrants, especially young people and urban job seekers.
“Youth unemployment consistently exceeded the national average, with the highest rates (32.4%) recorded among persons aged 15 to 24. In addition, about 21.5 percent of young people aged 15–24 were not in employment, education, or training (NEET)”.
“This represents a significant loss of productive potential and underscores the urgency of targeted youth employment and skills interventions. Urban unemployment remained higher than rural unemployment, and females continued to experience higher unemployment rates than males,” he said.
Also, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader in Parliament, has labelled the John Mahama-led NDC government as a promise and fail government.
The minority slammed the NDC government over its failure to cater for its Members of Parliament.
He stressed that the NDC government, which cannot take care of its 189 MPs, cannot provide jobs for the youth.
He criticised the Majority Caucus leadership for failing to improve members’ welfare.
According to Afenyo-Markin, the NDC promised to create a three-shift system but has failed to deliver.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, December 18, 2025, he stated, “They also said they were going to create one job with three shifts. Mr Speaker, a government that cannot take care of its 189, cannot take care of the many jobless youth that are seeking jobs. A government that cannot take care of its 189 in this chamber cannot take care of the many youths… Mr Speaker, this government is a promise and fail government”, he remarked.
“The backbenchers in this House are suffering, and you say you are going to create jobs. When your members have been rendered redundant and cannot go back to their constituencies, you say you are going to create jobs,” he stated.
He added, “The Majority should take care of its own backbenchers; they are your MPs. It is not enough to come here with 189 MPs, and you cannot take care of them”.
“The minister for public sector reforms has been rendered redundant and jobless. She is just at the Jubilee House. The minister in charge of special initiatives is also just there doing nothing, and he is being paid salaries doing nothing.
“…They said they were only going to appoint 60 ministers, but there are many other government appointees,” he added.
Afenyo-Markin added, “Some (NDC MPs) are coming to back bench in Uber and in a taxi. Mr Speaker, your Majority should take care of your back bench,” he noted.
“What Adongo needs is a job. He is always on the floor attacking the Minority, yet he is jobless,” he added.