The Employment Minister says opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) does not understand the unemployment situation in Ghana.
Haruna Iddrisu said the policies detailed in the NPP 2016 manifesto to address the issue of unemployment in the country are impotent considering the herculean nature of the problem.
“Unemployment is stubbornly high,” he said, adding it would take a combination of job creation, and emphasis on technical and vocational education to stem the tide.
“We have to de-emphasis everybody looking up to the public sector for a job,” Mr Iddrisu said Friday when he participated in the final edition of Joy FM’s Ballot Box programme aimed at bringing the constituents and their parliamentary candidates together to discuss electoral issues in Tamale.
Out of the many issues, at least 387 residents of the Tamale South, Central and Sagnerigu Constituencies who participated by voting what their most important issues were settled on job creation.
Some 73 residents said their votes for their preferred presidential and parliamentary candidate in the December 7 polls would be decided by the person’s concrete policies to address the rising unemployment situation.
Education came second with 45 votes.
About 84 votes were rejected because they were politically tagged, something that the programme organisers advised against.
Both the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and NPP have said they would reverse the situation if they are given the mandate in the general elections.
The NPP has said more of the public sector workers are earning salaries below the minimum wage, but Mr Iddrisu who also doubles as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale South says the NPP was encouraging falsehood.
“Let the NPP be told that there is no public sector worker who earns below the minimum wage,” he said.
He said the NPP’s manifesto promise to reduce income tax would not work, as it would stifle growth.
Mr Iddrisu which is the function of micro economic progress, creating an enabling environment, ease of doing business and the cost of doing business for the private sector to create the jobs, must be strategic that is collaborative.
Government is promising ready employment avenues for the youth with a promise to create over three million jobs beginning next year.
Deputy Minister for Communication, Ato Sarpong said Ghanaians, especially the youth seeking employment in health, education, information communication technology, and public works will be provided with ready employment opportunities on the job market.
He said when the President completes the numerous Community Day Senior High School and hospital projects, a lot of opportunities will be available for the youth.
“Opportunities would be for teachers; anybody who is a nurse here has a job waiting. Anybody practicing to be a doctor has a job waiting; anybody practicing to be a healthcare assistant has a job waiting. Anybody wanting to be an accountant, there is a job waiting for you,” he said.
Speaking at a Job Summit in Kumasi as part of the 5-day campaign tour recently, the Chief of Staff asked the youth to take up careers in the sectors earmarked to receive a boost to position them for opportunities.
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