NPP deceived Ghanaians on job creation - Richard Quashigah

The Member of Parliament for Keta, Richard Quashigah has rebuked the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Akufo-Addo-led government over what he describes as a total deception and failure on its part to provide jobs for the youth as promised in the runoff to the 2016 elections.

Contributing to the 2018 Budget and Financial Statement debate on the floor of Parliament, the deputy ranking member of Parliament’s Committee on Employment noted that President Akufo-Addo and his government has created no jobs for the youth.

He argued that government promised to, among other things, create 750,000 jobs under the ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ initiative, establish 51 factories under the ‘One District One Factory’ policy but Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta in presenting the 2018 budget went silent on how many of those jobs and factories had been created.

“In 2017, the Ghanaian people were told that 750,000 jobs will be created under the Planting for Food and Jobs. Mr., Speaker, in this budget of 2018, nothing was mentioned about 750,000 jobs created, an indication that Ghanaians have been deceived or misled.

“According to this document, which is the 2018 budget, monies have been allocated to agriculture without the mention of jobs that have been created. Mr., Speaker, projections when made, must actually bring about results. There are no results. The joblessness in Ghana which is worsening has been recognized by many,” he stated.



Ken Ofori-Atta presenting the 2018 budget assured Ghanaians of jobs in 2018 following the prudent measures which have been outlined while indicating that over the past 10 months, the Akufo-Addo-led administration has delivered on its promises.

“We promised to pursue policies that will create jobs in the economy and we are delivering. This budget, by the grace of God, will deliver massively on jobs.

“We have very good reasons to be optimistic about our country again. Government has shown and will continue to demonstrate through its actions that the welfare of the Ghanaian is paramount. Plans to restore and sustain faith with Ghanaians and external partners. This is evident in our decision to extend the IMF ECF Program to December 2018 to ensure that all our targets are met,” Finance Minister said.

But Hon. Quashigah asserted that it was an empty promise. According to him, the NPP has failed and cannot be trusted.

“It’s obvious the issue of job creation has overwhelmed the Nana Addo presidency. This government rode on the back of creating jobs for the young people… Contractors are laying off workers just because this government has refused to pay contractors,” he intimated.

“The fight against galamsey, even though good, has been haphazardly done that genuine small scale miners who hitherto had generated so much jobs are out of business. No provision has been made for these people. Mr. Speaker, if you go into the 2017 budget, within the fisheries industry, we were told that we were going to create over 6,000 jobs. That has not been mentioned in the 2018 budget. So why do we make projections and refuse to give accounts?” he queried.