‘Graduate unemployment has become a thing of the past’ – KNUST student lauds government

At the government’s first 2020 Government Townhall meeting happening in Kumasi in the Ashanti region, a university student has been showering unrestrained praises.

The final year student of the Kwame Nkrumah University Science and Technology (KNUST), Joel Appiah has emphatically said that unemployment has become a thing of the past since the Akufo-Addo government took office in 2016.

The final year student who appears to be impressed with the NPP-Akufo-Addo government has lauded the numerous contribution of the government.

The Townhall meeting is expected to abreast the general public on the achievements and performance of the Akufo-Addo government over the last three years.

Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, who headlines the meeting is expected to outline with data evidence the Akufo-Addo administration’s achievements.

Sharing his expectations ahead of the meeting, Joel Appiah said the NPP government has been fantastic with regards to delivering its promises.

“Talk about the free SHS, talk about trainee allowances, all that has been restored. From teachers to nurses. The employment opportunities that have been created, ” he said with much conviction.

He went on to add that “over three years now, there’s nothing like graduate unemployment Association of Ghana. Unemployment has been reduced drastically and it all boils down to the fact that the government is doing well.”

“I mean dependency ratio on Ghanaians, and parents have reduced. It’s actually been tremendous considering the fact that the macroeconomic indicators are pointing in the right direction, ” he stressed.

Joel Appiah believes the government has fulfilled its promises hence the need for an extra four years.

The government has put Ghana’s unemployment rate at 3.7 percent. The Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffuor Awuah has said;

“People who are actually not working and made efforts to look for work and did not obtain work summed up to 422,000. So strictly speaking these are the unemployed persons that we have on our hand.”

The Labour Ministry has also said an additional 417,000 people have given up looking for jobs out of frustration and lack of hope.

According to tradingeconomics.com, the unemployment rate in Ghana increased to 6.70 percent in 2018 from 6.60 percent in 2017.

The World Bank also puts the unemployment rate for 2019 at 6.78%.

 

Also sharing her thoughts on the issue, Madam Akyere Frimpong Manu of the Ghana School Feeding program at the National Secretariat outlined the achievements chalked by the Ghana School Feeding program under Akufo-Addo leadership.

“Today, we are looking at an increase in the coverage of the program, the number of caterers who have come on board. Also, empowered women in the program. Distributing local foodstuffs like Ghana rice, soy products, all made in Ghana, she said.

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About the Town Hall meeting

The meeting which will be led by Vice President, Dr. Mahammadu Bawumia will be followed by a Result Fair, where the government’s major gains will be displayed in the form of pictures and videos.

The objectives of the Government Town Hall Meeting and Results Fair are to ensure accountability in accordance with the 1992 Constitution, guarantee inclusive and participatory development and provide an opportunity for the citizenry to interact with the implementation ministries on performance and impacts of the flagship programmes.

Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah had earlier indicated that today’s event will be data-driven with evidence of work done in the last three years.

“The exercise will be heavily data-driven and made available to the Ghanaian public and other stakeholders immediately afterwards. Evidence of work done will also be mounted in a Result Fair Exhibition, which will be led by the Ministry of Monitoring and Evaluation, similar to what took place in Accra some few weeks ago.”

“Dr. Bawumia’s presentation will set the tone as a public accounting mechanism for the work done by the Akufo-Addo administration with reference to its 388 manifesto promises and commitments”, he added.

The theme for the event is “Demonstrating fulfillment of our promises.”

Guests from across academia, civil society groups, political parties, and the general public have been invited to participate in the Town Hall Meeting.