The youth wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ghana’s main opposition party, has slammed the government over the high graduate unemployment rate in the country.
According to the latest figures from the Ghana Statistical Service, 1.8 million tertiary graduates are unemployed, representing a staggering 14.7% of the labor force.
The NDC youth leader, George Opare Addo, said this was a clear indication of the government’s incompetence and mismanagement of the economy.
He questioned how a government that had received more resources than any other in Ghana’s history could preside over such massive unemployment.
He accused the government of wasting public funds on dubious deals like Agyapa and the National Cathedral project, which he said could have been redirected to meaningful job creation initiatives.
George Opare Addo also criticized the government for failing to implement the NDC’s 24-Hour Economy policy, which he said would help reduce unemployment by creating jobs in sectors like construction, health, agro-processing and tourism.
He called on the unemployed graduates to join the NDC and support its policies and plans, which he said would bring redemption to the country.
Government Defends Its Record
In response, the government spokesperson, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, defended the government’s record on job creation.
He said the government had created over two million jobs in the formal and informal sectors since 2017, through various interventions like the Nation Builders Corps, the Planting for Food and Jobs, the One District One Factory, and the Ghana Enterprises Agency.
He said the government was also investing in skills development, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation to equip the youth with the relevant competencies for the 21st century.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah challenged the NDC to provide credible evidence of its 24-Hour Economy policy, which he said was a mere slogan without any substance.
He urged the youth to ignore the propaganda of the NDC and support the government’s agenda for growth and development.
Experts Call for Dialogue
Meanwhile, some experts have called for dialogue and collaboration between the government and the opposition to address the unemployment challenge.
Dr. Kwame Asamoah, an economist and lecturer at the University of Ghana, said the unemployment situation was a national crisis that required a bipartisan approach.
He said both the government and the opposition had some good ideas and programs that could be harmonized and implemented to create more jobs and opportunities for the youth.
Dr. Kwame Asamoah also advised the youth to be proactive and innovative in seeking and creating employment, and to take advantage of the various training and support programs available.
He expressed optimism that with the right policies and actions, Ghana could overcome the unemployment challenge and achieve its vision of becoming a prosperous and inclusive nation.
Source: Modern Ghana
