Former President, John Dramani Mahama, has intimated that the calls by the youth for the country to be fixed is not only a problem of the New Patriotic Party but a problem for the nation.
Speaking with the Regional House of Chiefs as part of his ‘Thank You Tour’ in the Upper East Region,;he indicated that the campaign is as a result of the youth being disappointed in the democratic governance system.
“Fix It is not the problem of only NPP. It is a problem of Ghana. And so, when people in government think that these young people, we must demonize them, we must do this, It’s not because of NPP, its’ all of us.
“They are expressing disappointment in our collective leadership. The earlier we listen to them and dialogue with them the better.”
John Mahama
He further stated that claims made that he sponsored the ‘FixTheCountry’ campaign with 85,000 pounds were false.
“It’s an absolute lie. Those old McVallian tactics don’t work. I have not given Fix it one single cedi for them to demonize their leader and create the impression that their leaders have collected money so that you can detach their leadership from their following.
“For me, I take them seriously because those young people are our children and whether you demonize them or not,;the problem of youth unemployment remains and will continue to grow.”
John Mahama
Unemployment, a problem of Africa
Moreover, John Mahama said youth unemployment has been a problem for governments all over the world but particularly a problem for governments in Africa.
He indicated that, about 12 million graduates come out of universities and tertiary institutions all across the African continent and yet the continent produces between six and seven million jobs a year.
“And so, what happens to the other five million graduates who cannot find employment and its beginning to show in other countries. The youth are getting disappointed in our democratic governance. They do not see any future for themselves. In Nigeria they had the SARS movement and its like a rebellion against Police oppression. But who are those who took part in the SARS operation? It’s the unemployed youth.
“The point is, let’s not think that if you are enriching yourself, you are safe. When the youth rise up, they think that people living a good life are the people oppressing them that’s why they cannot get a job.”
John Mahama
Listen to the youth
He therefore advised that what ought to be done by the various leaders is to listen to the youth because the youth of this country are “their children”.
“If I was President, I will call a national strategic meeting on how we can create youth employment, sustainable jobs because no one party has the answer.”
John Mahama
He further urged the Regional Chiefs to be conscious of what is going on, especially with the growing insecurity stemming from unemployment.
“Many of the armed robbers they are arresting today are our children. They are Ghanaian youth who have dropped out of JHS, SHS or who have finished tertiary institutions and have no opportunity to find work.”
John Mahama
John Mahama therefore urged all to be mindful of the happenings in the country. He further assured that, the NDC, as the opposition, is ready to play its role in holding government accountable.
The NDC, he stated, will also collaborate with government where the right thing is being done to help provide a better life for the Ghanaian youth.
