We're Hungry - NDC Youth Tell Ministers

National Democratic Congress (NDC) Youth Organizer Ludwig Hlodze, National Propaganda Secretary Richard Quashigah and a team of young deputy ministers and presidential aides had a tough time on Wednesday explaining to party youth at Asamankese why they should help the party to retain power in 2012.

The team had a rude awakening when the youth told them point blank that they were fed up with government’s empty promises, stressing that ‘action’ must be taken immediately to provide them with jobs.

During an open forum, the NDC youth, who had been agitating over their unemployment situation, said they were unhappy with the apparent neglect of party foot-soldiers, adding that most of them had been living on an ‘empty stomach’ in the past two years that their government had been in power.

The NDC constituency and branch youth organizers from Oda, Akim Swedru, Ofoase/Ayirebi, Kade, Akwatia, Ayensuano, Lower West Akim, Upper West Akim and Aburi/Nsawam constituencies in the Eastern Region had been summoned to Asamankese for an interaction with the government team. It was not clear who footed the bill.

Also on the team were Dr Kofi Omane-Boamah, Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Deputy Minister of Tourism, James Agyenim-Boateng, a presidential aide, Stan Dogbe and a Deputy NYEP National Coordinator, James Kofi Fonu, who is also a deputy National Youth Organiser of the party.

The youth organizers complained that anytime they demanded employment, all they heard from government officials was that they did not have certificates; but it was through their toil that the party came to power.

They said they would advise themselves accordingly because even if they worked again for the party to retain power, it would be the same old story of “no certificate, no job.”

Members of an NDC youth pressure group at Asamankese, calling itself ‘Forever Youth Club’ in particular, were angry with the party chairman in Lower West Akim for supposedly creating divisions within the NDC and running the party like his personal property.

According to the group, the constituency chairman does not come to the office. They also accused the Lower West Akim NYEP Municipal Coordinator and Municipal Head of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) of not doing their work well.

The lambasting went on until a certain T.J. from Asamankese Sabon Zongo asked them to stop complaining.

His admonition however angered the group, which nearly plunged the meeting into chaos, with accusations and counter-accusations amongst party members in the Lower West Akim constituency.

After tempers had subsided, Mr. Hlodze and the other members on his team advised the youth to exercise restraint because their problems would be solved one after the other.

They assured the youth that taking care of their needs was a gradual process and urged them to work extra hard for the party to retain power in 2012.

The meeting took place at the official residence of the West Akim Municipal Chief Executive (MCE).

The MCE was not at post as Mills’ Sword of Damocles had fallen on him, making the place a free-range for all the NDC boys.

The team was at Nkawkaw yesterday to meet with party youth in the northern sector of the region before heading for Koforidua to meet with youth in the remaining constituencies.

At Nkwakaw, Stan Dogbe was at the studios of Life Fm with Ludwig, after which they settled on bowls of kokonte, as part of the ‘Better Ghana’ agenda.