Dela Coffie, a known activist of the National Democratic Congress has summarized the party’s Youth Manifesto, underscoring the party’s commitment to addressing the needs of Ghanaian youth.
According to Coffie, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) 2024 Youth Manifesto is a bold and comprehensive plan designed to tackle youth unemployment, revamp the education system, and create sustainable opportunities for young people across the country.
“With the December 7th election inching closer each day, the youth wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) under the leadership of the workaholic George Opare Addo(Pablo) on Tuesday organised two public events and offered the NDC 2024 flagbearer, John Mahama the platform to set out a series of measures aimed at boosting opportunities for young people.
“First, in its kind in our body politics, both the UPSA-Kofi Ohene-Konadu Auditorium policy launch and the Bukom Boxing Arena interactive youth forum is a blueprint of what Ghana can be and a pledge for the difference NDC can and will make”.
Dela Coffie, NDC Activist
The renowned activist highlighting the key initiatives in the opposition party’s youth manifesto mentioned that at the heart of the NDC’s Youth Manifesto is a commitment to creating a Youth Employment Bureau and introducing a Youth-In-Mining policy.
These initiatives he noted are designed to provide targeted support to young Ghanaians entering the job market, especially in high-demand sectors such as mining and technology.
One of the flagship policies according to the NDC’s activist is the “No Academic Fees Policy”, which he noted promises to absorb academic user fees for all new entrants into public tertiary institutions, including universities, colleges of education, and nursing training colleges, beginning in the 2025/2026 academic year.
This policy, according to him, will be financed by redirecting the GHS 2 billion currently spent on the Office of Government Machinery.
Dela Coffie further pointed out that the next NDC administration seek to make the Free Senior High School (SHS) program more accessible by extending it to private senior secondary schools, ensuring that every Ghanaian child has the opportunity to benefit from free quality education.
Again, he noted that in the party’s bid to address the challenges faced by the current SHS system, the NDC plans to phase out the double-track system and ensure that all students attend school and go on vacation simultaneously.
Furthermore, to support students in higher education, Dela Coffie stated that the NDC would revive the Student Loan Trust Fund Plus (SLTF Plus) by providing financial assistance to continuing tertiary students.
In a significant step towards inclusivity, he affirmed the NDC’s commitment to roll out free tertiary education for all persons with disabilities who gain admission to public institutions.
“And as part of a mission to address the infamous ‘in-out-out-out’ policy of the Universities, the NDC wants to partner the private sector to develop accommodation facilities on the campuses of all public tertiary institutions”.
Dela Coffie, NDC Activist
Reforming Teacher and Nursing Education
Among several other initiatives, the NDC activist underscored the opposition party’s plans to address the contentious issue of the licensure exams for trained teachers, asserting that under a Mahama-led government, the licensure examination will be incorporated into the final year exams of colleges of education, streamlining the certification process for aspiring teachers.
He also added that the NDC plans to scrap the quota system for admissions into nursing and teacher training colleges, thereby expanding enrollment opportunities.
Digital Revolution and Job Creation
Recognizing the importance of technology in the modern economy, Dela Coffie outlined the NDC’s ambitious plan to invest $3 billion in Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
This investment according to him, aims to create at least 300,000 jobs through the “Digital Jobs Initiative”.
According to him, a key component of the initiative is the One Million Coders Program which he mentioned seeks to train one million young Ghanaians in coding and other in-demand digital skills, positioning them to thrive in the growing Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) sectors.
Apprenticeship and Entrepreneurial Support
Moreover, the NDC ‘s Dela Coffie pointed out that the party’s youth manifesto seeks to introduce the National Apprenticeship Program, which will enrol young people in free vocational training under senior craftsmen.
Here, Dela Coffie further stated that upon completion, trainees will receive certification and support in the form of startup equipment and funds to establish their businesses.
Complementing the initiative according to him is the “Adwumawura Program”, a startup policy aimed at creating, tracking, and mentoring a minimum of 10,000 businesses by young people annually.
Additionally, Dela Coffie mentioned that the NDC is proposing the Prior Learning Certification (PLC) and Set-Up Certification (SEC) programs to validate and enhance the skills of artisans in the informal sector, helping them advance their careers and secure better job opportunities.
Support for Informal Sector Workers
Highlighting the NDC’s commitment to social protection, Dela Coffie mentioned that the Youth Manifesto pledges to introduce the “MO-NE-YO Insurance Scheme” , a special pension plan for informal sector workers, including commercial drivers, farmers, fishermen, and market traders.
This scheme he noted aims to improve the livelihoods of these workers during their retirement years.
In conclusion, the renowned NDC activist opined that the opposition party’s Youth Manifesto represents a clear departure from the status quo, offering a vision that seeks to empower Ghanaian youth, create sustainable jobs, and ensure equal access to quality education.
“Clearly, the NDC is proposing to the Ghanaian youth a broader perspectives on a broad range of issues to build a better, fairer Ghana, where no one is held back – And where everybody is able to get on in life, and to be decently paid for the work they do, and to live their lives with the dignity they deserve”.
Dela Coffie, NDC Activist
He lauded the Youth Wing’s efforts and praised Lawyer George Opare Addo, the opposition party’s National Youth Organizer for his leadership in organizing the events.
He emphasized that the NDC’s Youth Manifesto is not just a set of promises but a blueprint for building a better Ghana, where every citizen has the opportunity to succeed and live a life of dignity.
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