"NDC's Youth Jobs Promise Is A 'Farce' – NPP Youth Leader Slams Government Over Unfulfilled Pledges"

Mustapha Salam accuses ruling party of deceiving young Ghanaians with unrealistic employment programmes, claiming key initiatives have delivered a fraction of their targets.

The National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mustapha Salam, has launched a scathing attack on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government's youth employment programmes, describing them as nothing short of a deception that has left thousands of young Ghanaians feeling betrayed.

In a no-holds-barred interview, Salam systematically dismantled what he termed the government's "lofty promises" – including the much-touted Adwumawura programme, the ambitious One Million Coders initiative, and the flagship 24-hour economy policy – arguing that none have delivered on their stated objectives.

Adwumawura Falls Far Short of Target

Salam's most detailed criticism centred on the Adwumawura programme, which was designed to provide financial and technical support for young entrepreneurs seeking to establish or expand their businesses.

"The government promised to create 100,000 jobs through the Adwumawura programme," Salam stated. "They have not been able to achieve that target. They've created fewer than 10,000 opportunities under the programme, and even those have not been sustained."

The NPP youth leader further alleged that the programme has effectively stalled, with beneficiaries receiving little to no follow-up support or additional funding to ensure their businesses could grow beyond the initial stages.

One Million Coders: 'Just Joking'

Turning his attention to the One Million Coders programme – an initiative intended to equip Ghanaian youth with digital skills for the global technology market – Salam was even more dismissive.

"One Million Coders programme – they have not been able to deliver on it. Forget it. They are just joking there. It's not real," he declared with evident frustration.

The initiative, which was a centrepiece of the NDC's campaign promises to position Ghana as a regional technology hub, has faced persistent criticism over its implementation pace and the actual number of young people who have completed meaningful training programmes.

24-Hour Economy: A 'Farce' from the Start

Salam reserved particular scorn for the government's 24-hour economy policy – branded as "Agenda 133" during the election campaign – which promised to transform Ghana's economic landscape through round-the-clock business operations across multiple sectors.

He argued that the policy was fundamentally flawed from its conception, particularly regarding its application to key state institutions.

"There's no way you can make TOR [Tema Oil Refinery], GNPC [Ghana National Petroleum Corporation], or NPA [National Petroleum Authority] operate three shifts," Salam asserted. "It is simply not feasible for such institutions to run a 24-hour model."

The NPP youth organiser suggested that the policy was designed more as a campaign slogan than a workable economic strategy, appealing to young voters without adequate consideration of the practical challenges involved in implementing three-shift operations across Ghana's industrial sector.

Campaign Promises Versus Delivery

Salam reflected on the political dynamics of the 2024 election, acknowledging that the NDC's promises proved particularly attractive to young voters who had grown increasingly frustrated during the NPP's eight years in power.

"The lofty promises that the NDC were making were quite sweet to the ear for the youth," he admitted. "Many young people were desperate for change and genuinely believed the NDC would bring better opportunities."

However, he claimed that this hope has now turned to disillusionment, with many young Ghanaians taking to social media to express their disappointment.

"Today, the same youth are on social media feeling scammed – realising that everything they were told was a lie," Salam said.

Broader Unfulfilled Promises

The NPP youth organiser extended his criticism beyond employment programmes to include other key pledges that he claims have not materialised.

He specifically referenced the government's promises regarding automatic rotation for nurses and the recruitment of teachers – commitments that created significant expectations among young professionals in these critical sectors.

"These promises created high expectations, and the government has not done enough to meet them," Salam argued, suggesting that the failure to deliver on such specific commitments has eroded public trust in the government's broader agenda.

The NPP's Alternative Vision

Salam took the opportunity to contrast what he described as the NDC's unrealistic promises with his party's more practical approach to addressing youth unemployment.

"I think our plan was much more credible than what the NDC was presenting," he stated, referring to the NPP's election manifesto. "We presented more realistic and achievable solutions."

He maintained that the NPP's approach to job creation, based on sustainable economic growth and private sector development, would provide better opportunities for young people if properly implemented.

"Everything the NDC promised is a farce," Salam concluded. "The 24-hour economy, the Adwumawura programme, the One Million Coders – all of it has been exposed as empty rhetoric."

Political Context and Implications

The criticism comes at a politically sensitive time, with the NDC government facing mounting pressure to demonstrate progress on its key campaign pledges. Youth unemployment remains one of Ghana's most pressing challenges, and the government's ability to deliver meaningful opportunities will likely be a decisive factor in its political fortunes.

Salam's accusations that the NDC's employment programmes have failed to deliver will resonate with the thousands of young Ghanaians who voted for the party in 2024 hoping for tangible change. His claim that promises were "sweet to the ear" but ultimately hollow captures the growing disillusionment among a demographic that has become increasingly vocal in its demands for accountability.

The Youth Employment Challenge

Ghana's youth unemployment crisis predates both the NPP and NDC administrations, with successive governments struggling to create sufficient opportunities for the country's rapidly growing young population. The challenge has been compounded by economic pressures, including inflation, currency depreciation, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Any credible solution requires sustained investment, policy coherence, and genuine partnership between government, private sector, and international development partners. Quick-fix programmes and headline-grabbing initiatives, while politically attractive, rarely deliver sustainable outcomes.

Looking Forward

As the NDC government continues to navigate the complex terrain of youth employment, the criticisms raised by Salam highlight the gap that can emerge between campaign rhetoric and practical governance. The government now faces the challenge of demonstrating that its commitments were more than just electoral promises.

For young Ghanaians watching these political exchanges, the immediate concern remains securing meaningful employment and economic opportunity. The debate between political parties, while important, must ultimately translate into tangible results.

The coming months will reveal whether the NDC government can deliver on its employment promises or whether Salam's accusations will prove prophetic.

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