In his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), H.E. President John Dramani Mahama laid out an urgent plan to tackle what he described as “the biggest crisis we face in this country“—youth unemployment.

He painted a dire picture of the current situation, revealing that up to two million young Ghanaians are unemployed, a statistic that he warned poses “a major security risk for our country and requires urgent attention.”

“To bring much-needed focus to the desperate and widely scattered youth employment programs and to ensure stricter accountability in their implementation, I have set up the Ministry for Youth Development and Empowerment.’’
H.E President John Dramani Mahama

This new ministry will be tasked with formulating, coordinating, and monitoring policies aimed at youth development and job creation.

Beyond youth employment, President Mahama signaled his administration’s commitment to fighting corruption, particularly in the public sector. He highlighted the shocking case of the National Service Ghost Names Scandal, which he said led to the fraudulent addition of over 80,000 ghost names on the payroll. “Such brazen theft of public funds must not go unpunished,” he vowed.

According to him, this fraudulent scheme could have cost the nation over GH₵50 million every month. He lamented that some of the culprits have already fled the country but assured Ghanaians that his administration will pursue justice.

“I have directed that they be declared wanted, and their assets traced and frozen until investigations are completed.’’
H.E President John Dramani Mahama

Additionally, to prevent such incidents in the future, President Mahama tasked the newly created Ministry for Youth Development and Empowerment with drafting a Legislative Instrument to guide the enforcement of the National Service Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1119). He added;

”We will introduce a short Military training as part of our National Service training.’’
H.E President John Dramani Mahama

Job Creation: Adwumawura Programme

A major highlight of the President’s address was his plan for job creation, which he emphasized was one of the major campaign promises to Ghana’s youth.

“To help actualize this promise, we’re going to roll out what we call the Adwumawura Programme.’’
H.E President John Dramani Mahama

Under this initiative, the government will select the top 2,000 implementable business proposals annually and provide young entrepreneurs with Training and mentorship, as well as Access to startup capital.

Additionally, President Mahama launched a National Apprenticeship Program, aimed at training at least 10,000 young people in the informal sector by providing them with employable skills, apprenticeship fees, and startup kits.

Recognizing the importance of commercial motorcycle transport (Okada) in Ghana’s economy, President Mahama revealed a structured training program to ensure road safety, financial literacy, and digital skills for Okada riders.

“We will introduce electric motorcycles on a hire-purchase scheme to eliminate the use of petrol and make their businesses more profitable.’’
H.E President John Dramani Mahama

Inclusion for People with Disabilities

Ho Social Women Fund — Women with Disability Trained

In a bid to promote social inclusion, Vice President’s Empowerment for People with Disabilities Program will be launched this year.

“The program will target women and people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups to build their capacity and offer them access to finance to create their own jobs.’’
H.E President John Dramani Mahama

With the world rapidly advancing in technology, President Mahama placed strong emphasis on IT and digital skills development. He announced the 1,000,000 Coders Program, which will provide training in Coding, Web and App Development, Data Marketing and Digital Skills

“We must provide meaningful and relevant education to prepare our youth for today’s technology-driven job market.’’
H.E President John Dramani Mahama

In his concluding remarks on youth employment, President Mahama reinforced his administration’s commitment to creating jobs, empowering youth, and fighting corruption.

“Job creation is one of our main pillars, and we are committed to empowering the youth through practical, impactful programs.’’
H.E President John Dramani Mahama

As Ghana embarks on this new journey, the success of these policies will be closely watched by citizens, political analysts, and economic experts alike.

If effectively implemented, President Mahama’s bold vision for youth empowerment could be the key to unlocking Ghana’s economic potential and securing a brighter future for the nation’s young people.