The Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Ajumako Enyan Essiam Constituency, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has vehemently criticized President Akufo-Addo for deliberately refusing to comment on the alarming unemployment rate plaguing Ghana during his State of the Nation Address.
The Minority Leader commenting on the country’s alarming unemployment situation as reported by the Ghana Statistical Service in its recent report accused President Akufo-Addo of neglecting the pressing issue during his address.
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson strongly asserted that the country’s unemployment situation has reached a critical point which needs urgent attention from the government.
“Mr Speaker, the unemployment situation in our country is at a point of crisis, yet we did not hear President Akufo-Addo utter a single word on it”
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minority Leader
The Ajumako Enyan Essiam Member of Parliament further argued that out of the country’s population of about 33 million, only 11.3 million Ghanaians are currently employed in some form.
Dr Ato Forson noted that the number of people in the employed category include peasant farmers, and further stated that two out of every three citizens are jobless, a situation he described as “NINJAs”, implying “No Income, No Jobs, and No Assets”.
Furthermore, the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson bemoaned the rising rate of youth unemployment in the country, and pointed out that a staggering 30% of the youth are practically facing unemployment.
Dr Ato Forson also claimed that approximately 4.5 million employable Ghanaians have withdrawn from the labor force due to years of disappointment and frustration, contributing to the severity of the unemployment situation in the country.
The Minority Leader expressed concern over the exodus of professionals from the country in search of better opportunities, and attributed the situation to the high unemployment rate that has plagued that country under the ruling New Patriotic Party administration led by President Akufo-Addo.
Concerns Rock Over President Akufo-Addo Large Size of Government
Moreover, the opposition leader in Parliament criticized President Akufo-Addo’s recent ministerial reshuffle which according to him has led to an increase in size of his government with more appointees.
He particularly chastised President Akufo-Addo for creating separate roles for the Ministry of Finance, making the former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta responsible for the country’s international finances while the current Finance Minister Mohammed Amin in charge of the country’s domestic finances.
According to the former Deputy Minister of Finance, the decision by President Akufo-Addo could have some direr impact on the country’s already overburdened and overstretched economy.
“Finally, Mr Speaker I am scandalized, indeed shocked to the marrow to note that following his recent ministerial remix, the President has increased the size of his government with more appointees. Mr Speaker, one dollar today is GHS 13 compared to one dollar to GHS 3.8 under President John Dramani Mahama”.
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minority Leader
In addition, the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson argued that Ghanaians voted for both President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to work together, and therefore, the Vice President cannot disassociate himself or run away from the failures of President Akufo-Addo.
He thus cautioned Ghanaians not to vote for the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, by emphasizing that a vote for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is an extension of President Akufo-Addo’s term in office.
“I conclude to say that Ghanaians would not miss President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia”,
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minority Leader
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency in the Volta Region, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has strongly criticized President Akufo-Addo for ignoring the plight of over fourty thousands citizens that were affected by the Akosombo and Kpong dam spillage during his State of the Nation Address to Parliament.
The North Tongu legislator in a scathing critique described President Akufo-Addo lack of show of empathy and concerns to the victims of the flood as “unpresidential and un-Ghanaian”.
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