Ahead of the 2008 elections, there was a rumour that if the NDC wins the election, the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) would be CANCELLED. The NDC refuted that claim. Then MP and running mate of Professor Mills, John Mahama, “refuted media publication that the NDC government would scrap 110,000 jobs under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).
Addressing a hurriedly press conference organized by the NDC Vice Presidential hopeful in
Sunyani over the weekend, he indicated that he had never said anywhere that the NDC government would abolish the NYEP. He said, “We would not scrap NYEP, but we shall review it to be permanent and lucrative to all Ghanaians.” He explained that what he has been saying was that the NYEP under the NDC would be reviewed. He added that he also stated that the NYEP, as it is now, would be maintained as a short time programme under the NDC administration and be strengthened to remove any political mark on it…..
Hon. Mahama, however, revealed that the NDC administration would strengthen the whole job
industry based on three areas so that people under the NYEP could find secured jobs. He named the areas as growing the economy
that would lead to permanent job creation, increase investment in the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and investment in the public works that would throw up jobs in the private sector.”( “We won’t scrap NYEP”, Daily Guide, 24/07/08).
This was 2008, when the NDC was desperate to return to power after 8years of being in opposition. We are in 2016 and the NDC hasn’t yet used their three thematic areas they promised to curb the unemployment situation in the country. The NDC has failed to grow the economy. They have in fact worsened it. They have destroyed the economy so jobs are not just in the system. The NDC have equally failed to grow small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Their dumsorisation of the country have led to the collapse of many SMEs. The NDC have not passed the very exams they set for themselves in 2008.
With these in mind, one would have thought that the president would not have made further promises. But that would be practically impossible because we are talking about a president who ardently believes Ghanaians have very short memories and can accept lies in every given day, time and situation.
President Mahama has promised three million jobs to be created in 2017 in the very unlikely event he is voted for again. This promise of his is refuting his own party propaganda. His specially trained ministers and propagandists, painted a picture of a rosy employment situation in the country. Okudjeto Ablakwa for instance made us to believe in 2011 that the NDC created 1,400,0000 jobs for the youth of the country. Then in 2014, Dr Omane Boamah also made us to understand that 800,000 jobs were created and added to the already existing jobs. That to him is one of the achievements of the president Mahama led NDC government.
If we add all, we’ll realise that 2,200,000 were already created. With this, one wonders where the deficit is coming from for the president to create jobs to fix for the three million people. One still wonders why University and polytechnic graduates are roaming from office to office searching for non existing jobs. One further wonders why teaching and nursing trainee graduates sit at home and do nothing. Even common appointment letter they can’t get to then think of payment of their salaries and arrears. The president and his NDC government are actually clueless about the unemployment situation in the country.
In any case, the president can’t be believed in his promise of job creation after his government has already signed a death warrant with the IMF to sack public sector workers in 2017. He just wants votes to use to sack workers. The president despite promising not to scrap NYEP has modified it into GYEEDA for he and his cronies in the NDC to loot the state. The create, loot and share in GYEEDA can’t be easily forgotten by us. GYEEDA was collapsed by the NDC and wasn’t operational again until this very few months to elections where it was brought back to deceive a public who the NDC believe are very gullible with very short memories.
The president and the NDC must however be credited for making the youth of the country to resort to gambling(lotto, eurobet, jackpot etc) as a way of getting some small coins for survival. At least that’s the only “viable” employment they have created for some people.
I shall, In sha Allah, be back
Fuseini Abdul-Fatawu
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