The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Ellembelle, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has declared that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government has restored hope to Ghanaians, after inheriting what he described as a severely distressed economy.
He said the government, despite the difficult circumstances it inherited, had within about a year and a half made significant progress in rebuilding the economy, restoring the country’s forest reserves and injecting fresh resources into the education and healthcare sectors.
Addressing the Western Region NDC Youth Conference, Mr Buah said the government inherited a country “completely engulfed in debt” and burdened with serious challenges, including environmental degradation and deteriorating public infrastructure.
He said the situation was particularly dire in the education and health sectors, where schools lacked basic infrastructure and equipment while the healthcare system suffered from inadequate investment.
Mr Armah-Kofi Buah, however, said the government had since made considerable progress, arguing that the economy was now moving in the right direction.
“The economy is on the right path. We are finally restoring hope,” he declared.
Forest reserves reclaimed
The Minister, who has responsibility for the country’s natural resources, said one of the government’s major achievements had been the reclamation of the nation’s forest reserves.
He said the previous administration had allowed extensive destruction of forest reserves through activities that compromised the country’s environmental sustainability.
“I can tell you what you have done. Your patience today, I can stand here and tell you that we have reclaimed all our forest reserves. Nobody is in the forest reserve destroying it,” he told the youth.
He also pointed to renewed investments in education and healthcare, saying the government was preparing to inject almost half a billion cedis into education to rehabilitate schools and improve infrastructure. He added that resources were also being committed to reviving the healthcare sector.
Mr Armah-Kofi Buah also used the conference to underscore the importance of young people to the future of the NDC and Ghana.He said more than 70 per cent of Ghana’s voters were below 40 years, making the youth an indispensable constituency for the political party.
“The NDC’s future is tied to the youth,” he said, urging the party to continue empowering young people to assume leadership positions.
According to him, the youth were the “engine” of the NDC and played a decisive role in the party’s return to power.
He commended them for their efforts during the 2024 election campaign, saying their commitment and sacrifices contributed significantly to the victory of President John Mahama and the party.
“You are the reasons why the NDC is in power. You are the reason President Mahama is President. You are the reason I am a Minister,” he told the gathering.
Next budget
The Lands Minister further disclosed that the next national budget would place greater emphasis on youth empowerment.
He said the government was moving from the initial phase of economic recovery and sacrifice towards creating more opportunities for young people.
“The next budget will be a budget of empowerment of our young people and our youth. That is where we are going,” he announced.
Mr Armah-Kofi Buah said the government had already created jobs despite the difficult economic circumstances, citing more than 2,000 jobs created through his ministry as an example.
He maintained that the government’s efforts to stabilise the economy and rebuild critical sectors would ultimately create a stronger foundation for youth development.
The Minister for Lands also recounted aspects of his political journey to demonstrate what he described as the NDC’s ability to provide opportunities for individuals irrespective of their background.
He said he lost his father at the age of seven and grew up with a mother who had no formal education.
According to him, he did not have a prominent family name to rely on, but through hard work, dedication and commitment to the party, he was able to rise to become a Member of Parliament and a Cabinet Minister.
He said his experience reinforced his belief that the NDC was a political tradition where individuals could rise through service and commitment.
The Minister for Lands, therefore, urged the youth to remain committed to the party and prepare themselves to take over leadership of both the NDC and the country.
He said the party’s future remained bright, provided it continued to invest in and empower the young people who constitute its strongest political base.
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