Former President John Dramani Mahama has stated that the critical role of Ghana’s youth, as key agents of change and development throughout the history of the country could not be underrated.
In his view, deliberate efforts must be made to empower a generation of skilled youth, create decent jobs and support the youth to transform Ghana, Africa and the world at large.
This, he explained, would ensure a brighter future by serving as an antidote to rising unemployment, increased cost of living, and lack of opportunities, which he said, have rendered many young people hopeless and tested their sense of patriotism to the limit.
He has, therefore, promised that any future government under him and the National Democratic Congress would work urgently to equip the youth with the entrepreneurial knowledge and skills needed for a sustainable future.
Mr Mahama made the call in a post to celebrate Ghanaian Youth on International Youth Day which has been set aside by the United Nations to promote better awareness of the World Programmed of Action for Youth on Saturday, 12th August, 2023.
He said “on International Youth Day, I celebrate the creativity, enterprise and passion of Ghana’s youth. I want to use this occasion to highlight the importance of our young people as the driving force of positive change and innovation”.
According to Mr Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) were committed to urgently turning the situation hopelessness around by paving the way for nurturing a generation of skilled youth.
A new NDC administration, he explained, would introduce a 24-hour economy with incentives and tax breaks for manufacturers who would run extra shifts to create more room for employment.
“We will work to ease the burden of taxes imposed by this NPP administration on Ghanaian businesses and investors, which has robbed Ghana of its envious position as one of Africa’s leading destinations for investment”, he added.
The NDC’s policy priorities, he said, would imbue the youth with the “knowledge, abilities, values and attitudes needed to live in, develop and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society”
He further promised that any new government under him would maximise the potential of agriculture and agribusiness and provide critical social and IT infrastructure to stimulate economic growth.
The 2023 International Youth Day was under the theme: Green Skills For Youth, Towards A Sustainable World
