Full text: Mahama Message at NDC Youth Empowerment Manifesto Launching
Ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, and my beloved young Ghanaians,
Thank you for joining us today on International Youth Day. It fills me with great pride to be here with you, my children, nieces, nephews, and dynamic youth of Ghana, as we launch the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Youth Manifesto on this significant day, August 12th.
As you’ve heard from the earlier presentations, the NDC Youth Manifesto is our blueprint for empowering Ghanaian youth and unlocking your potential for sustainable development. This year’s International Youth Day theme, “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development,” perfectly highlights the transformative power of digital technologies in shaping the future of our young people.
In celebrating the youth’s contribution to positive change through digital tools, I am proud to reaffirm our commitment—under the Mahama and Nana Jane Administration—to upscaling digital skills and training for Ghana’s youth. We envision a future where every young Ghanaian thrives in the digital age. That’s why we are committed to supporting digital startups, incubation hubs, and training one million young Ghanaians in coding.
As you may know, our 2020 manifesto already included initiatives like the Media Codex program. Building on this, we will invest $3 billion in partnership with the private sector to develop a robust technology and fintech industry that will create jobs and drive economic growth in Ghana. Our 24-hour economy policy, set to be implemented in 2025, will open new job markets, foster entrepreneurship, and drive innovation, laying the foundation for a prosperous future for all Ghanaians.
Our commitment to the youth extends beyond digital empowerment. The NDC Youth Manifesto outlines key initiatives to increase access to quality education, affordable healthcare, and numerous job creation programs. I also want to acknowledge the commendable efforts of our National Youth Wing, led by the indomitable George Opari-Addo, for organizing this excellent youth event.
Since launching Ghana’s first national youth policy in 2010 during my tenure as Vice President, I have remained committed to recognizing and honoring our youth on International Youth Day. During my presidency, I consistently invested in youth development across various sectors, including education, skills training, health, recreation, sports, and job creation.
I appointed intelligent and hardworking young men and women to serve in my government, and their excellent performance gives me the confidence to appoint even more young people when I am elected President in January 2025.
The National Youth Authority Act, enacted in 2016, strengthened the framework for youth development and increased youth representation on its governing board. It also recognized the establishment of the Ghana Youth Federation and mandated the creation of regional and district youth committees to encourage youth involvement in decision-making. However, the challenges facing our youth today, such as economic mismanagement, corruption, nepotism, and poor governance, have negatively impacted them.
The rising unemployment rate, which currently stands at 14.7%, is a significant challenge, especially for young people. The scarcity of job opportunities forces many to resort to low-paying informal work or seek opportunities abroad, exacerbating the brain drain that hampers our national development.
To address these issues, I have proposed a sustainable vision to reset Ghana by introducing and aggressively implementing the 24-hour economy policy. This policy will enable one job to be shared across three shifts, providing job opportunities for three workers instead of one, thereby driving economic growth, improving service delivery, and creating jobs in both the public and private sectors.
Essential components of the public sector’s 24-hour service will include 24-hour ports and harbors, customs service, banking service, vehicle licensing service, and passport services, among others. In the private sector, targeted industries will include agro-processing, manufacturing, construction, sanitation, waste management, transportation, financial institutions, retail, and tourism services.
These advancements will create decent, well-paying jobs and opportunities for digital skills development. ICT will play a vital role in our 24-hour economic policy. We will equip young people with digital skills and job opportunities, including the One Million Coders program. The Accra Digital Center, established under my presidency, will be decentralized to other regions to train students and unemployed graduates, enabling them to capitalize on digital job opportunities.
We will work with telecom companies to reduce data costs and deploy free Wi-Fi in schools and selected public places. The eight-hour work system currently in place is inadequate to generate the productivity and well-paying jobs needed to revive Ghana’s economy. Extraordinary times require extraordinary interventions, and the 24-hour economy initiative is the best pathway to creating the jobs our young people need.
My government will provide the necessary incentives, such as favorable taxes and reliable power, to encourage this. We will also offer financial support through the Ghana Ex-Im Bank and other resources. The Trade Union Congress has described the 24-hour economy initiative as a game-changer for youth employment, and we shall deliver to exceed their expectations.
Before I left office in January 2017, my government had developed a 40-year development plan through the National Development Planning Commission, which included the 24-hour economy initiative. So this is not a new idea; it’s a vision we had already set in motion.
My fellow Ghanaians, elections have consequences. That’s why you must vote wisely for change on December 7th—for John and Jane, and for your NDC parliamentary candidates. We need a healthy majority in parliament to carry out the programs necessary to provide jobs for our young people.
I am resolute in my commitment to establishing a dedicated Ministry for Youth Development. This ministry will centralize the coordination of youth initiatives, facilitate job creation, promote entrepreneurship, provide scholarships, and enhance youth participation in decision-making, while ensuring the effective implementation of the National Youth Authority Act.
Despite various initiatives, a significant gap still exists between the skills offered by educational institutions and the demands of our job market. To address this, the NDC government will launch the National Apprenticeship Program to provide skills training for youth who do not progress to the tertiary level.
Political bias and hypocrisy have damaged recruitment processes within Ghana’s youth enterprises and public sector. Under my leadership, recruitment will be decentralized to ensure equitable representation of all citizens within the security agencies and public services. We will eliminate secret recruitment practices and ensure all young Ghanaians have the opportunity to serve.
Our secondary education sector faces challenges such as overcrowding and inadequate resources. The next NDC government will improve the Free SHS program by engaging stakeholders in education and ensuring proper infrastructure and sustainable funding. We will also abolish the double-track system, allowing all students to attend school simultaneously and expand access by building more infrastructure in existing secondary schools.
In higher education, financial barriers prevent many students from completing their studies. My government will partner with the private sector to construct hostels on university campuses at reasonable rates, addressing the accommodation challenges students face. We will also launch the No Fee Stress initiative, providing financial support to eligible students through the Student Loan Trust Fund.
Only 20% of youth-led startups receive the necessary funding or mentorship, resulting in high failure rates and stifling innovation. The next NDC government will prioritize support for young entrepreneurs to ensure they have access to capital, business development services, and training. We will also establish the Women’s Development Bank to provide funds and training to women entrepreneurs, helping them start and grow their businesses.
This unique bank will focus on job creation and addressing the challenges women-owned businesses face in accessing credit. It will also play a key role in import substitution, financing and mentoring youth agribusinesses to boost the agro-processing sector.
In conclusion, my fellow young Ghanaians, dare to dream and dare to achieve. Our dreams can transform not only our future but also the future of our communities, our country, and the world at large. You are the catalyst for positive change, and through your inspiring actions and determination, we can bring about the transformative change our world and country desperately need.
Remember always to dream big, aim high, and strive for greatness. The power you wield as a young Ghanaian is immense and powerful. By unleashing your potential and embracing your destiny, you can make a global impact.
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