The former Upper East Regional Minister, Prof. Avea Ephraim Nsoh, has expressed his skepticism about the World Bank’s recent commitment to create 500,000 jobs annually for Ghanaian youth.
Speaking with Apexnewsgh in an exclusive interview, he labeled the promise as “NOT TRUE! FAKE!” and urged the public not to be easily swayed by such claims.
“Let them first tell us how many jobs they created in the last eight years under Akufo Addo and Bawumia,” he stated, visibly frustrated. “I am horrifyingly embarrassed that my Finance Minister believes in this fraud. Are we this gullible?”
Prof. Nsoh elaborated on his critical perspective of the World Bank, asserting that their track record in developing countries has been anything but trustworthy. He accused the institution of being overly focused on capitalist interests, often ignoring the unique contexts of the nations they aim to assist. “Most of the time, their prescriptions are wrong,” he claimed, emphasizing that their real interest lies in projecting a positive image of governments, only to subsequently shift blame when issues arise.
Though he identifies as a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), his disapproval of external financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank was clear. “Every ordinary person on the street knows that all these IMF and World Bank agreements are unlikely to deliver those 500,000 jobs because recent history shows otherwise,” he asserted. With palpable frustration, he questioned why such job opportunities hadn’t materialized in the previous four years.
Prof. Nsoh urged for a greater accountability from national leaders, lamenting a culture where they take the populace for granted. Highlighting the potential wealth within the country’s resources, he asked rhetorically, “If we have all these mining concessions, why must we go looking for money?” He pointed to various institutions, from the DVLA to the Land Commission, as entities generating revenue yet still falling short of meeting the nation’s needs.
In closing, he expressed his disbelief over Ghana’s repeated reliance on the IMF, recalling that the country has sought their assistance a staggering 17 times. “Why are we still following the IMF?” he concluded, leaving the audience to ponder the effectiveness of such partnerships in their quest for economic stability.
The World Bank has committed to supporting Ghana in tackling its youth unemployment challenge by backing a new Growth and Jobs Strategy to create opportunities for over 500,000 young people entering the job market annually.
The announcement followed a high-level meeting at the World Bank headquarters between the Bank’s Managing Director of Operations, Anna Bjerde, and Ghana’s Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson (MP).
The two leaders discussed plans to collaborate on the design and implementation of the strategy, which focuses on job creation, skills development, and inclusive economic growth.
“This initiative reflects our shared priority of unlocking opportunities for young people,” said Bjerde.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
