The Greater Accra Regional Youth Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Amos Blessing Amorse has lauded the party’s flagbearer, former President John Dramani Mahama’s proposal to create a new ministry that would be responsible for youth development in the country.

The opposition party’s youth leader reacting to criticisms from some members of the ruling New Patriotic Party following Mr Mahama’s remarks, strongly asserted that Mr Mahama’s proposal to establish the Youth Development Ministry is vital to the development of the country.

He stated that no country across the globe has developed without paying special attention to the development of its youth.

“Speaking at the recent unveiling of the National Youth Secretariat of the National Democratic Congress, President John Mahama re-echoed his plans to create a separate Ministry for Youth Development instead of sticking to the current arrangement where Youth and Sports have been merged into a single Ministry”.
Amos Blessings Amorse, NDC ‘s Greater Accra Regional Youth Organizer

Mr Blessing Amorse further argued that Mr Mahama’s proposal became more appropriate bearing the fact that the youth form the majority of the county’s population and the major challenge affecting them in recent times is unemployment and underemployment.

Furthermore, the opposition party’s Greater Accra Regional Youth Organizer indicated that even though there are several ministries and agencies responsible for addressing youth problems in the country, the output of such state institutions over the years has not been effective enough to address the concerns of the teeming youth in the country.

He noted that Mr Mahama’s proposal underscores a critical evaluation of the existing Ministry of Youth and Sports, which he posited has largely functioned as a sports-centric entity, with disproportionate attention given to football, particularly the national team, the Black Stars.

“Some may argue that there are institutions or agencies charged to deal with youth policies to address unemployment and underemployment challenges. That argument is correct but these agencies are either under the Youth and Sports Ministry or Employment and Labor Relations Ministry under the current arrangement.
“These ministries over the years have not focused on the youth aspect of their mandates and have left the agencies under them to underperform. The Employment and Labor Relations Ministry, for instance, has been reduced to a Ministry for ‘begging’ striking Labour unions to call off the strike and get to the negotiation table. This ministry has not taken key interests in how agencies like YEA, NEIP etc create employment for young people”.
Amos Blessings Amorse, NDC ‘s Greater Accra Regional Youth Organizer

This myopic focus according to Mr Blessings Amorse has sidelined comprehensive youth development initiatives, leaving a significant portion of Ghana’s youth population grappling with unemployment and underemployment.

*Amos Blessings Amorse, NDC ‘s Greater Accra Regional Youth Organizer*

Moreover, the National Democratic Congress youth leader recounted that the former President’s vision for a dedicated Youth Development Ministry aims to rectify such disparities by crafting policies tailored to address the multifaceted needs and aspirations of Ghana’s burgeoning youth demographic.

He noted that the creation of such a ministry would also enable the government to exercise robust oversight over youth-related agencies, with the overarching goal of alleviating Ghana’s alarming 14% unemployment rate.

Mahama to Run a Lean Government

Amos Blessings Amorse, the Greater Accra Regional Youth Organizer of the opposition party posited that Mr Mahama would consolidate existing ministries and merge others, thereby offsetting any potential increase in the number of ministries and ministers when elected into power.

He vehemently refused the argument made by some communicators of the ruling New Patriotic Party that Mr Mahama cannot promise to reduce the number of ministers when elected and at the same time promise to create a new ministry.

He highlighted past instances where ministries such as fisheries and agriculture, communication and information, and transportation sectors were amalgamated under a single unit during Mr Mahama’s tenure, effectively streamlining governmental operations to back his argument.

The National Democratic Congress Greater Accra Youth Organiser concluded his statement by stressing that given the kind of ministries that were created by the previous NDC administration, it would be therefore easier for Mr Mahama, to decouple the sports and youth ministry and still stay within his promise of working with only 60 ministers.