The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public Sector Reforms, Mr. Thomas Kusi Boafo has stated that the economic state of the country has bright prospects, considering the 2018 budget read by the Finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta on Wednesday.
He said over the years, the country has suffered from high rate of unemployment, poor economic management and other challenges which affected the development of the country but for the current government to tackle youth unemployment in the 2018 budget indicates that ‘Ghana is not dead’.
Speaking on Otec Fm morning show programme “NYANSAPO” hosted by Kwabena Ampratwum on Thursday, November 16, the renowned Economist noted that the greatest challenge that impeded national development is youth unemployment, but President Nana Akufo Addo led New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has instituted measures to tackle the canker.
“For the past five years the economy take only 10 % graduates annually on the average, it means the remaining 90% graduates get unemployed. It takes them seven to ten years to get job, so for the government to attach much attention on the youth indicates that the economy is in the right direction, this is the state of Ghana now, we are alive not dead,” Mr. Kusi Boafo indicated.
“To be honest with you Ghana is on the right path, we are alive not dead, every Ghanaian should rejoice,” he said.
Presenting the budget, the Finance minister said the fight against poverty and joblessness is no longer an option because it is a matter of national security to which it is determined to overcome.
According to him, the key initiatives through which the government seeks to generate employment are: Planting for Food and Jobs, Stimulus Package for distressed industries, One District One Factory and the Zongo Development Fund.
The rest include: National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, Free SHS, National Identification Scheme as well as National School Feeding Programme.
These, according to Mr. Kusi Boafo, the policies implementing by the current NPP government such us planting for food and jobs, free senior high school, one village one dam, one district one factory, will transform Ghana and make the country attractive to other country.
However, the CEO of Public Sector Reforms cautioned that if the Ghanaians do not make a good decision and handle this government and its policies well the country will be venerable.
“We have to make a rightful decision today, this Ghana this is our last chance but if we take things for granted, we will be found wanting,” he warned.
Source: otecfmghana.com/Kwaku Anane Jnr.
