NO government can fulfil campaign promises within six months

Koforidua, Aug 13, GNA - Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister, on Thursday said no government could fulfil its campaign promises within

six months and urged Ghanaians to give the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government some "space to work out its goals". He said it would be wrong for people to criticize and demand quick results from the government just six months of assuming office. Addressing the National Youth Rally in Koforidua, to mark the International Youth Day, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo appealed to the youth not to allow people to use

them for their selfish interest under the guise of patriotism. He said the Atta-Mills led government was a listening one and urged the public to offer constructive criticism that would help build a better Ghana for all. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said from next year, government would embark on a massive afforestation programme to replenish the degraded forests and create job

opportunities for the youth in the agriculture sector. He said the region, which had a forest cover of 16 million hectares, had now been reduced to only 1.6 million hectares due to the enormity of the degradation of

the environment. He observed that the high rate of unemployment was compelling many young people to indulge in anti-social behaviours and said government was committed

to addressing the situation. Touching on the theme; "Sustainability, Our Challenge, Our Future," Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said that was the bane of socio-economic development due to the lack

of sustainability. Papa Adjei Kyeremeh, Regional Youth Coordinator, said the day was instituted by the United Nations (UN) in 1999 to recognize the relevance of the youth in

every nation's development and the need to give them the opportunity to contribute in that direction. By that, the UN was appealing to all governments to empower the youth to do things on their own, he said, adding, "It also places a responsibility on the youth

in the preservation and conservation of natural resources". Mr Sekou Nkrumah, National Youth Coordinator, stressed the need for people to help government to achieve its goals rather than "punching holes in every

step it takes". He said every government needed the support of each and every citizen, particularly the youth, to achieve its set goals. Mr Nkrumah said the government, in recognition of the relevance of the youth in national development, had drawn up many programmes through the National

Youth Council (NYC) to empower them to become responsible leaders in future.