The presidential candidate for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, says job creation will be a major priority for the next NDC government.
He stated that the rate of unemployment was a major crisis that must be addressed by any serious government, considering its negative impact.
He expressed worry that several young people have graduated from school and are unemployed, living with their parents and being fed by them.
This narrative, he asserted, ought to be addressed to help minimise its negative impact.
He touted that under the earlier NDC governments, development has been rapid, but currently we need to move beyond infrastructure. Even though infrastructure is important, we (NDC) will continue to build schools, hospitals, and roads. We must, more than before, move to do things that will prove opportunities for the youth so they will be able to take care of themselves.
He said that before leaving office, unemployment was about 8%, but after eight years of President Akufo-Addo, unemployment has increased to 15%.
We need to change that narrative. It is a time bomb, he opined.
He said this while on a campaign tour at Fumbisi in the Upper East Region.
He underscored the need for the situation to be addressed so we don’t witness the Kenyan-like protests that have been replicated in Nigeria.
‘Jobs must be the priority of every government, and that is the priority of the next NDC government. We will do infrastructure, but we will also do things that will create jobs for our young people, and that is why we will introduce the 24-hour economy.’
The policy will be a deliberate policy intervention by the next NDC/Mahama government to encourage and support certain businesses and companies to operate 24/7, preferably in a three-shift system of 8 hours each.
The policy aims to create an enabling environment that promotes productivity, competitiveness, and well-paying jobs.
The initiative forms part of efforts by the NDC to create sustainable jobs for Ghanaians. This will be achieved through his agenda to: modernise and mechanise agriculture; provide incentives for the private sector to thrive; promote agro-processing and manufacturing; and transform Ghana into an import substitution and export-led economy, among others.
The 24-hour economy policy will be a major boost for John Mahama’s import substitution and export drive. This will stabilise our national currency, improve our reserves, bring down inflation and interest rates, create more employment opportunities, and improve livelihoods.
The 24-hour economy will primarily, but not exclusively, focus on:
24-hour Agro-processing
24-hour Pharmaceutical industry
24-hour Manufacturing industry
24-hour Construction
24-hour Extractive industry (mining and quarrying)
24-hour Sanitation and waste management
24-hour Leisure and hospitality industry
24-hour Digital start-ups and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)
24-hour Financial services
24-hour Retail centers
24-hour Transportation services
Also, selected public institutions with large customer traffic such as Ports and Harbors, Customs, Passport Office, DVLA, among others will be part of the 24-hour economy.
The 24-hour economy will also be implemented within the context of other national development initiatives, such as education and training, health services, agriculture, the provision of affordable housing for workers, efficient public transport, efficient justice delivery, among others. It is all part of an ambitious drive by the NDC/Mahama administration to take Ghana to the next level in the global economy.
By: Rainbowradioonline com/Ghana
