Former President John Dramani Mahama, the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has outlined five key policy proposals aimed at resetting Ghana's economy for growth. These proposals include the establishment of Farmer Services Centres, a National Apprenticeship Programme, the One Million Coders Programme, the FEED Ghana initiative, and a Women's Development Bank. Mahama emphasized the necessity of a 24-hour economy to effectively implement these initiatives during his campaign launch on November 4, 2024, in Kwamekrom, Biakoye Constituency, Oti Region [920541f5].
In his address, Mahama highlighted the pressing demand from the youth for job opportunities, particularly in agriculture and fishing sectors, which he believes are critical for economic recovery [920541f5]. The NDC has been vocal about the economic challenges facing Ghanaians, attributing much of the hardship to the government's Debt and Development Expenditure Policy (DDEP). The party has called for a review of this policy, claiming it has exacerbated issues such as high inflation and unemployment [2cfcaa23]. Mahama's proposals are seen as a direct response to these challenges, aiming to provide sustainable job opportunities for the youth [c1506ead].
In light of the recent upgrade of Ghana's credit rating by Moody’s to Caa2 with a positive outlook, Richard Ahiagbah, the Director of Communications for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has urged the NDC to acknowledge the government’s efforts in stabilizing the economy. This upgrade followed a successful debt restructuring that significantly reduced Ghana's debt stock [739e80b7].
During his campaign, Mahama assured the youth that if elected, the NDC would focus on economic recovery and job creation, emphasizing that the party is committed to restoring faith in the nation [d7fe89d0]. He expressed gratitude to the NDC youth wing for their support and reiterated the importance of their involvement in shaping the future of the country [c1506ead].
The NPP, while facing criticism over the economic situation, attributes the challenges to external factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, the NDC is positioning itself as a viable alternative, promising to implement policies that will alleviate the economic hardships faced by Ghanaians [299a2121].
As the political landscape heats up ahead of the 2024 elections, set for December 7, the focus remains on how these proposed initiatives will resonate with voters and whether they will effectively address the pressing economic issues in Ghana [920541f5].