Parties tackle unemployment at Y Dialogues in Kumasi

Ahead of the December 7 general election, three political parties, the Convention People's Party (CPP), New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the weekend took advantage of YFM’s Y Dialogues in Kumasi to detail plans on how they intend to tackle the issue of unemployment.

The event which took place at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) brought together students, the general public and sympathizers as well as representatives of the various political parties.

Speaking at the event, flag bearer for the Convention People’s Party (CPP) Ivor Kobina Greenstreet stated that the CPP government would provide linkages to most private companies nationwide and get the youth opportunities with these companies for experience while government pays their salaries.

“Between 2010- 2015, we earned 3 billion dollars from our oil resources but if we had implemented the production sharing formula, Ghana would have earned 9 billion dollars within that period. Parts of the proceeds from this – if we had implemented that system - could have been used to create employment for the youth as well as create the conditions that the youth will benefit from when they leave the university,” Mr Greenstreet said.

He added that the CPP government would ensure that what is taught in the classroom will be synchronized with what is practiced on the job in order to eliminate the condition called unemployable graduates.

According to him, both the NPP and NDC have failed to tackle the unemployment situation in Ghana because “both political parties pursue the same philosophy and have the same ideas.

“We are a wealthy nation with oil, gold, gas, cocoa, timber, diamond, bauxite, fertile lands and most of all strong human beings, and with all of these things, we are not supposed to be poor at all. The same way China took the world by storm, Ghana and Africa can take the world by tsunami,” he said.

Though the NPP had not launched their manifesto during the event, Dr. Emmanuel K. Marfo, NPP Parliament aspirant for the Oforikrom Constituency, blamed the current government for not being able to address the current unemployment situation which he said is “a security issue”.

He disclosed that the NPP government would create a favourable environment for private business to thrive and be able to employ a chunk of the country’s unemployed youth.

“In all developed economies, people have been employed through the private sector since lot of jobs are created in this sector. The government of Ghana will not be able to employ all the thousands of students who are coming out of our universities, polytechnics and other tertiary institutions. The NPP will provide a microeconomic environment that is conducive for private businesses,’’ Dr. Marfo stated.

He said, when government creates the enabling environment that allows industry to have access to capital and position them to be competitive within the country and the global market, then the businesses will flourish and will be in the position to employ more of our youth.

Deputy Chief of Staff and NDC representative at the event, Johnny Osei Kofi, also stated his government will strengthen and expand the youth employment program to provide employment to the youth at all levels of education. He also reminded the youth about government commitment to support innovative business ideas.

This year’s Y Dialogue series is geared towards the elections in December with both on-air and off-air engagements as well as social media drive with the hashtag #voteonissues. The Vote on Issues Campaign is sponsored by STAR-Ghana and supported by Global Media Alliance, e.TV Ghana, We Rise Foundation and the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition.