The ruling NPP government will further deepen the anxiety and desperation of unemployed youth following the massive layoffs under the Akufo-Addo-led administration, the largest opposition NDC has said.
The then opposition NPP promised to have job creation as the Party’s “single biggest” focus should it win the December polls.
In his maiden address to parliament, Mr. Akufo-Addo reiterated his government’s resolve to create the atmosphere that generates jobs and promised to boost the confidence of the private sector to invest in the economy.
But speaking at a press conference organised by the Minority in parliament to respond to the State of the Nation address delivered by President Akufo-Addo, February, 21, the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu said the NPP government that promised to put in motion a “Job Creating Engine” in its first budget to address the country’s unemployment challenge is largely shifting from its focus of job creation, a major case in their bid for power.
“The President’s SONA was particularly thin on employment, a major issue on which the NPP rode to power. Beyond the repetition of campaign mantra and slogans, no concrete plan to tackle the issue was discernible from the President’s speech. This vague policy platform with regards to job creation must be a source of worry for the teeming unemployed youth of Ghana,” he said.
According to him, the Akufo Addo/Bawumia government have managed to render thousands of Ghanaian youth , lawfully employed under the NDC government jobless, a situation that points to a betrayal of the many unemployed youth who voted for the NPP on the basis of the promises to give them jobs.
Casualties of unemployment in the first month of NPP government
205 employees of the National Service Scheme have been unceremoniously dismissed on very flimsy and clearly partisan considerations.
110 middle-level staff of COCOBOD in lawful employment have also been dismissed for no apparent reason.
8,634 Nurses who had received financial clearance and had been employed in various public health institutions have been thrown out of their jobs by the Akufo Addo/Bawumia government.
265 Police recruits who had reached advanced stages of training have had their dreams of entering the police service crushed by an unreasonable decision to dismiss them.
525 National Security personnel have also been shown the exit and asked to go home by this government, the minority recounted at its press conference Wednesday.