The topic of job creation has once again sparked a heated debate, with representatives of the two major political parties in Ghana, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), presenting opposing views on their contributions. This discourse unfolded during a panel discussion on Campus Exclusive at the University of Ghana, where speakers examined the impact of successive governments on employment.
Felix Agyeman-Duah, former Secretary of the University of Ghana Accra City Campus TESCON (Tertiary Students Confederacy of the NPP), highlighted key initiatives spearheaded by the NPP over the last eight years, particularly the One District, One Factory (1D1F) program. He argued that the initiative had made a significant dent in unemployment despite some challenges.
“On the issue of One District, One Factory, of course, we have seen some around, we have seen some in our districts. Though we have not been able to fully complete all of them, we have been able to complete 169 out of the total 260 districts. Which I believe that for nothing at all, they are employing individuals directly or indirectly, which they would earn some proceeds for themselves and their family,” he stated.
In sharp contrast, Braimah Mudasir, a staunch TEIN (Tertiary Educational Institutions Network) member of the NDC at the University of Ghana, challenged Agyeman-Duah’s claims. He argued that the NDC under President John Dramani Mahama had an unmatched record in job creation.
“His Excellency John Dramani Mahama created over 800 jobs as reported by MyJoyOnline. Through partnerships with the private and public sectors, numerous jobs were created between 2013 and 2015 by his government through the Export, Trade, Agricultural, and Industrial Development Fund. This development fund supported industries and founded over 500 different projects with GH¢245.4 million, such as pharmaceutical, rice, shea nut, and skills development,” Mudasir said passionately.
Providing an objective perspective, Opoku Ato-Kwamena Sadis, a student of economics and the Public Relations Officer of Legon Hall, sought to bridge the divide. He emphasized the need to distinguish between sustainable job creation and temporary work opportunities, which he believes is often overlooked in political debates.
“I think we should first and foremost look at the definition and distinction between job and work. If you say you’ve created a job and the job, as you would like to call it, just lasts for a week, you have not created a job; you have given that individual work to do during that period. The rest of the days left, the person becomes unemployed,” Sadis explained, urging for a more nuanced discussion on the subject.
The debate on job creation under successive governments remains an essential discourse, reflecting the broader challenges of addressing unemployment in Ghana. With each party presenting its achievements, the panel discussion underscored the importance of sustainable and impactful employment policies in the country’s development agenda.
Story by ; Jislord Naaa Ablorh
