The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has unveiled an ambitious Employment and Jobs Creation Strategy for a potential John Mahama presidency, aimed at creating 1.7 million jobs between 2025 and 2029.
This plan, the party says, will absorb 300,000 new yearly entrants into the workforce and reduce unemployment by 120,000 annually. The announcement was made by the NDC’s Employment and Jobs Creation Committee during a briefing in Accra.
Despite the severe economic and employment crisis expected to be left by the NPP by January 7, 2025, the NDC plans to execute this strategy based on five key pillars under the initiative called “MAN-UP-C.”
These include modernizing employment institutions and laws, launching the “Aspire 24” program to reshape workforce mindsets, and establishing a National Employment Trust to fund job creation. Additionally, the strategy involves the “Levelling Up” program to ensure inclusive employment and the formation of a high-level National Employment Coordination Committee to oversee progress.
During a media engagement on August 25, 2024, the NPP presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, repeated claims that the NPP has created 2.3 million jobs over seven years and that unemployment is on the decline.
However, these claims are unsubstantiated and misleading, as joblessness and poverty continue to rise nationwide.
Data from the Ghana Statistical Service’s Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey shows that 2.1 million Ghanaians—14.7% of the labor force—are unemployed, more than doubling from 1 million in 2017.
The unemployment rate has surged from 8.3% in 2017 to 14.7% by 2023. Moreover, of the 11.2 million employed in 2023, nearly 70% are in vulnerable, low-paying jobs without social protections, leaving many trapped in poverty as part of the “working poor.”
Under the NPP’s leadership, the economy has consistently failed to absorb new workforce entrants, employing less than 45% of them annually between 2017 and 2023. As a result, over 170,000 new unemployed persons were added to the labor market each year. The NPP not only failed to create jobs but also doubled unemployment during their tenure, leaving 1.3 million young people out of education, employment, or training (NEET). Dr. Bawumia’s job creation figures, therefore, disrespect the reality faced by millions of Ghanaians struggling with joblessness and economic hardship.
Godfred Sey/Ahotoronline.com
