We will focus on creating sustainable jobs, rather than relying on short-term programs like NABCO, Mahama criticizes Akufo-Addo
Ghana’s sixth President-elect, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, has suggested that his administration will focus on sustainable job creation.
This is in contrast to what he described as artificial initiatives like the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) program, launched by the outgoing government under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Mr. Mahama argued that such “artificial job-creating” schemes fail to address the country’s long-term unemployment issues. In an interview with VOA on Saturday, December 14, 2024, he specifically criticized NABCO, which was introduced by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government in 2018, calling it ineffective and unsustainable.
“We are not interested in the artificial job creation measures of the past, like NABCO, where young people were enrolled for three years, given an allowance, and promised job placements. At the end of the program, they were left without employment. We will not repeat those types of measures,” he said.
Instead, Mahama emphasized that his administration would focus on utilizing the existing Youth Employment Agency (YEA) to create real opportunities for training and job placement. “We already have the YEA, which is dedicated to providing genuine opportunities for training and career orientation,” he added.
