Salam Mustapha, the National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has reaffirmed the party’s commitment to addressing youth unemployment by focusing on sustainable and well-paying jobs. In an interview with Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on November 25, 2024, Mustapha discussed the party’s historical and current efforts to tackle the issue of youth employment in Ghana.
Key Points from Mustapha’s Interview:
- Historical Commitment to Youth Employment:
Mustapha traced the NPP’s efforts to address youth unemployment back to President Kufuor’s administration, which established the National Youth Employment Programme—now known as the Youth Employment Agency (YEA). He emphasized that this initiative was created in response to the threat that youth unemployment posed to national security at the time. - Ongoing Challenges Despite Efforts:
Although the government has made significant strides in job creation, Mustapha acknowledged that unemployment remains high, largely due to the increasing number of job seekers entering the labor market. He noted that the current government has created over 2 million jobs, the highest in the country’s history, but the demand for jobs continues to outstrip supply. - Focused Job Creation Strategy:
Mustapha outlined the NPP’s approach for addressing the issue going forward, particularly under the leadership of Nana Akufo-Addo in 2025. He referred to a recent event where the presidential candidate of the NPP outlined plans for creating decent, sustainable, and well-paying jobs in a clear and practical framework. Mustapha emphasized that the NPP’s job creation policies are not vague or confusing but focused on providing genuine, long-term employment opportunities for Ghanaians.
NPP’s Job Creation Focus:
The NPP’s strategy for tackling youth unemployment focuses on creating jobs that are not only sustainable but also offer decent pay, thereby improving the living standards of Ghanaians. Mustapha stressed that the party is determined to continue addressing youth employment with realistic and tangible policies aimed at long-term economic stability.
