Bawumia’s aide touts 3-pronged approach to creating 4 million jobs for the youth

Political Aide to the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Kofi Tontoh has elaborated on the flagbearer’s plan to create four million jobs for Ghanaian youth.

Speaking to Beatrice Adu on Midday News, on November 4, Tontoh emphasized a three-pronged approach focused on quality education, employable skills, and targeted job creation initiatives.

According to Tontoh, Dr. Bawumia aims to build on the current administration’s educational successes, noting that around 5.7 million students have benefited from free Senior High School (SHS) education as of the 2023 academic year, with that figure expected to rise to 6.5 million by the end of 2024.

However, Tontoh highlighted that providing quality education is just the first step, underscoring the need to equip young people with employable skills in fields such as law, engineering, and digital technology.

“One of the candidate’s priorities is to ensure that education is complemented by skills that can directly lead to employment. After acquiring these skills, the next critical step is to provide jobs that allow young people to actively contribute to the economy,” Tontoh explained.

According to Tontoh, a core aspect of Dr. Bawumia’s job creation strategy, is the “Buy Ghana” initiative, which aims to stimulate demand for locally produced goods.

Tontoh explained that Dr. Bawumia plans to amend the Procurement Act to legally mandate government agencies to prioritize purchasing Ghanaian products.

“By backing ‘Buy Ghana’ with legislation, we’re not only promoting local goods but also creating thousands of jobs for young people,” Tontoh said.

Additionally, Tontoh introduced the idea of a national credit scoring system to expand access to financial resources.
This credit system, he argued, would enable more Ghanaians to secure funds for purchasing essential goods and services, thereby boosting the economy.

Acknowledging concerns about debt, Tontoh asserted that, “if used responsibly, credit access could empower citizens to make significant purchases, such as homes and vehicles, that drive economic growth and create jobs in manufacturing and other sectors.”

Tontoh also addressed concerns about the accessibility of these policies for Ghana’s large informal workforce. He noted that while a credit scoring system may initially cater to those in formal employment, the policy is expected to mature and extend benefits to the informal sector over time.

“The policy’s impact will grow as it matures, eventually bringing more Ghanaians into the labor force,” he added.

In response to questions about Ghana’s regulatory challenges, Tontoh acknowledged that certain laws—such as those regulating real estate transactions—are not always enforced effectively.

However, he expressed confidence that initiatives like a robust credit system could improve accountability in areas like real estate and encourage further compliance with the law.

Through these initiatives, Dr. Bawumia’s team believes they can create an environment that empowers Ghanaian youth with the skills, resources, and job opportunities needed for long-term economic prosperity.

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By Christabel Success Treve

The post Bawumia’s aide touts 3-pronged approach to creating 4 million jobs for the youth first appeared on 3News.

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