Kojo Oppong Nkrumah Proposes Five-Point Plan to Tackle Ghana’s Youth Unemployment Crisis
The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee and Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has sounded the alarm over Ghana’s escalating youth unemployment crisis and put forward a comprehensive five-point strategy to address the problem. Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, June 11, 2026, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah described youth unemployment as one of Ghana’s most urgent socio-economic challenges, cautioning that existing interventions are falling short of expectations. Quoting recent data from the Ghana Statistical Service, he noted that the unemployment rate among persons aged 15 to 24 rose from 32% in December 2024 to 32.5% by the third quarter of 2025, and that nearly two million young Ghanaians are neither in education, employment, nor training. “Mr. Speaker, we do not need more slogans or promises that results are in the pipeline. We need a more effective architecture to solve the worsening youth unemployment problem in our country. The time to act is now,” he declared. Highlighting the gravity of the situation, the MP for Ofoase-Ayirebi stressed the need for bold and measurable reforms, arguing that Ghanaian youth demand practical, dignified, and well-paid job opportunities—not rhetoric. Oppong Nkrumah’s five-point proposal includes: Publishing delivery scorecards for all job creation programmes, using clear metrics such as beneficiaries, cost per job, time-to-placement, and employment retention rates; Distinguishing between skills training initiatives and actual job creation efforts, noting that training alone does not guarantee employment; Shifting from government-led financing to increased private sector participation, with government reducing investment risks, co-investing in strategic sectors, and creating a supportive regulatory environment; Making apprenticeship programmes the backbone of the youth employment strategy, anchored by national certification, employer incentives, and structured pathways to jobs or entrepreneurship; Establishing a credible Labour Market Information System to provide real-time data on vacancies, skills gaps, and labour demand. He concluded by urging policymakers to move beyond slogans and promises, and instead adopt practical, accountable solutions to reverse the trend and unlock opportunities for Ghana’s burgeoning youth population. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
DRIP National Coordinator Vanderpuye Signals Bid for NDC National Chairmanship
Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, National Coordinator of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), has announced his readiness to step down from his current role to contest for the National Chairmanship of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), should incumbent chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia choose not to seek re-election. In an interview the media, June 11, 2026, Vanderpuye made clear his respect for Asiedu Nketia, describing him as a “senior brother” and stating he would not run against him. “We started together in Sunyani; he’s one of the people that I respect so much, and so I wouldn’t want to contest him if he decides to contest. But if he’s not contesting, I’m ready to offer myself,” Vanderpuye stated. Highlighting his extensive history with the NDC, Vanderpuye traced his political journey from youth organiser and foundation member of the party to serving as a ward secretary during the party’s formation in 1992, even while working at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. “I was the youth organiser of the Democratic Youth League of Ghana, the Future Leaders Organisation. I’ve always been part of this. I’m also a foundation member of the party,” he recounted. Vanderpuye also pointed to his experience as a parliamentary aspirant, deputy minister, cabinet minister, and campaign official in past NDC administrations. “I was a parliamentary aspirant as far back as 1996. Former deputy minister for trade, former deputy local government minister, former minister for youth and sports, director of operations for President Mills’ campaign, and officer at the presidency in those days.” When asked if he would resign from his current post as DRIP National Coordinator to enter the chairmanship race, Vanderpuye confirmed his intent to step down, stating, “Yes, because I think this party has given me so much. I want to give back to the party.” Vanderpuye’s declaration sets the stage for a potential leadership contest within the NDC, pending the decision of the current national chairman. Source: Apexnewsgh.com