NDC is not interested in artificial job creation measures like NABCO - Mahama

The President-Elect, John Dramani Mahama, has reaffirmed his commitment to addressing key socio-economic challenges, particularly job creation for Ghana's growing unemployed youth.

In a recent interview with VOA, he noted that his administration will implement measures to restore the economy and ultimately deliver prosperity to many Ghanaians who are struggling to survive, following the current economic crisis.

“A lot of businesses have laid off people just because of the crisis we've had in the economy. And so just bringing the economy back and letting businesses grow again, we are not interested in the artificial job creation measures that have been done in the past, like NABCO, where young people were taken through three years, paid an allowance, and promised that they'll be graduated into jobs, and at the end of the process, they've been abandoned," he explained.

The president-elect also spoke about his commitment to fostering private sector growth and supporting the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) to create sustainable job opportunities.

He expressed concern about the limitations of the public sector in absorbing a growing youth population.

“If you look at the government sector, the government sector employs less than a million people out of a population of 33 million. And so, it’s not a viable sector where all the teaming youth can get a job. The best place to get a job would be for the private sector to grow," he explained.

Mahama stressed the need for equipping young people with vocational skills, such as plumbing and carpentry, to meet the evolving demands of the labour market, acknowledging initiatives like the National Apprenticeship Programme.

“The National Apprenticeship Programme would allow master craftsmen to train apprentices and give them the manual skills that they need to be able to either set up their own businesses or go into the world of work", he added.

Watch the interview below:



JKB/AE

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