24-Hour Economy: There will be massive youth employment - Mahama

Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has asserted that his administration’s “first priority is going to be job creation so that we can create jobs for the teeming youth of this country”.

“And that is why I'm proposing the 24-hour economic policy. The policy is going to be linked with aggressive food production and modernisation of our agriculture,” he explained.

The former president spoke at the momentous launch of the NDC’s campaign in Tamale, Saturday, July 27, 2024.

He said, “In every district, we are going to create farmer service centres...We will bring the tractors, the planters, the plows, the seeds, the fertiliser – if you are a farmer you must register with the centre.”

Mr Mahama said farm inputs will be loaned to farmers, which loans will be serviced post-harvest and post-profit.

“At the beginning of the farming season, we'll give you all the inputs that you need so that you can produce your crops, and when you have sold your crops, you come back and pay for the inputs that you have been given,” he said.

Beyond alleviating youth unemployment, ensuring access and food security, John Mahama noted his “24-hour economy is going to be linked to an accelerated export development programme” to transform the economy of Ghana.

He explained this programme will be facilitated by the creation of “agro-processing zones” which will result in “a new class of agribusiness people”.

Mr Mahama underlined his role in this vision.

“And there’s going to be an accelerated export development programme of which, I the president, will be the chairman,” he said.