The NDC Youth Force has urged President John Dramani Mahama to honour his party's employment promises to young Ghanaians, warning that grassroots supporters who helped return the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to power must not be forgotten as the government prepares its 2027 Budget.

The group wants the government to prioritise youth employment, accelerate the implementation of the 24-Hour Economy policy and recruit thousands of trained teachers still waiting for postings.

In a statement ahead of Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson's presentation of the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy on Thursday, November 12, 2026, the group said growing frustration among young people over unemployment and delayed campaign promises required urgent government attention.

It acknowledged some interventions introduced by the Mahama administration, including the One Million Coders Programme, the Adwumawura initiative and the activities of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA).

However, it argued that the programmes needed adequate funding, expansion and effective implementation to make a meaningful difference in the lives of unemployed young people.

24-Hour Economy promise

The NDC Youth Force identified the 24-Hour Economy policy as one of the major campaign commitments that must receive greater attention in the upcoming budget.

The policy, which was a central feature of the NDC's 2024 election campaign, was presented as a strategy to expand production, increase business activity and create employment through a three-shift working system.

Although the government has taken steps towards establishing the institutional framework for the initiative, the group believes more must be done to translate the policy into tangible employment opportunities.

It therefore called on the government to return to the drawing board and provide the necessary investment, policy direction and implementation framework to make the initiative operational.

"The youth cannot continue to wait indefinitely for a promise that gave them so much hope," the statement said.


Trained teachers still waiting for jobs

The group also expressed concern about the situation of trained teachers who are yet to secure employment despite completing their studies at Colleges of Education.

It recalled the NDC's campaign commitment to scrap the mandatory national service requirement for graduates of Colleges of Education and ensure the prompt recruitment and posting of newly qualified teachers.

According to the group, thousands of trained teachers remain unemployed, while some schools across the country continue to experience teacher shortages.

It described the situation as a threat to educational delivery and a source of disappointment for young graduates who expected the government to address their employment concerns.

The group is consequently demanding immediate recruitment and automatic posting of qualified teachers from Colleges of Education.


What the NDC Youth Force wants in the 2027 Budget

Ahead of Dr Forson's budget presentation, the group is demanding clear financial commitments and practical measures to address youth unemployment.

It wants the government to allocate adequate resources to mass youth employment programmes, provide a workable roadmap for the 24-Hour Economy and increase support for digital skills training, entrepreneurship and local businesses.

It has also called for greater inclusion of grassroots youth in government employment initiatives and party decision-making processes.

The group said young people who worked tirelessly to secure the NDC's return to power deserved to experience tangible improvements in their livelihoods.

"Our grassroots remain the strength of the NDC. They stood with the party when it was in opposition, and they deserve to see real change in their lives," the statement said.

It added: "Whoever held your hand when you fell is the first face you see when you rise."

The NDC Youth Force is therefore appealing to President Mahama and his government to remember the promises that secured the party's electoral victory and ensure that the 2027 Budget delivers jobs, hope and meaningful opportunities for young Ghanaians.




EA