When one takes a cursory look at the continuous dismissals and inhumane treatment carried out by the NDC government led by President, Mahama.
What comes to mind is a vote of no confidence in the much-touted antidote to tackle the unemployment situation in the Country, i.e., the 24-hour economy.
This is not about partisan politics but facts on the ground. They promised to create more jobs through the 24-hour economy for the Ghanaian youth but it has turned out to be a mirage.
What's quite perplexing is the no budgetary allocation for the major campaign tool by the National Democratic Congress, NDC in the lead-up to the 2024 general elections.
They campaigned solely on that as the panacea to create more jobs for the teeming unemployed graduates and youth of the Country across the length and breadth of the Country.
Mr. Mahama, before the crucial 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, lured the youth to buy into the narrative of creating more jobs through the 24-hour economy policy.
It was all over TV, Radio, and various social media handles, especially with their campaign song on the 24-hour economy for the Ghanaian youth to give them the mandate to rule.
Lo and behold, Ghanaians gave the NDC and Mr. Mahama an overwhelming mandate which has never happened in our fourth republic when it comes to Electoral victory with such a wide gap or margin.
However, ever since President Mahama was sworn in on January 7, 2025, to steer the affairs of the Country with that overwhelming victory against the backdrop of the 24-hour economy.
He started poorly with the mass revocation of appointments by the teeming youth who were engaged by the previous government led by President, Nana Addo and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
Unfortunately, a campaign promise to employ more turned out to revoke and sack innocent youth who were legitimately employed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP: Development in Freedom) for their dreams to come true.
Shockingly, the youth who voted massively for the NDC and President Mahama are rather subjected to this inhumane and dehumanizing ordeal by the NDC government.
Mr. President, what happened to the 24-hour economy promise? Was it to lure the Ghanaian youth to vote for you, and you later turned your back on them?
Basically, what's currently ongoing in the various sectors of the economy with dismissal letters flying like birds in the air leaves much to be desired. This is not what you promised and those affected are in agony and misery.
Mr. President, I penned this open letter to highlight some of the inhumane treatment you have subjected innocent souls to, especially the energetic youth, i.e., men and women.
Indeed, the Ghanaian youth didn't vote for you to show them your true colors and some of us were aware that your leadership style hinged on creating more unemployment and not employment.
The NDC cajoled the youth into having confidence in the 24-hour economy as the anchor to accelerate growth, development, and job creation with the formula " one job, three people, and three shifts" 1, 3, 3.
Objectively, the 2025 budget and Economic Policy of the President, read by the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, on March 11, 2025, on the floor of Parliament, highlighted the government Expenditures for the various sectors of the Economy.
The alarming situation was the total silence on the 24-hour economy, which they campaigned vigorously on to create sustainable jobs for the youth who are unemployed across the nook and cranny of the Country.
In addition, the Minister also talked about the cancellation of 1D1F, which majority of the youth were engaged in by the Nana/Bawumia administration. In the budget statement, the minister stated vividly about allocation to government machinery, which the majority of Ghanaians are asking questions for such a colossal amount to be spent by OGM alone.
Taking the above into consideration, Mr. President, are you committed to the promise to employ more of the youth? But the no budgetary allocation to the 24-hour economy and the blueprint is indeed absurd and bizarre, to say the least.
Why don't you continue with the existing factories and give them massive support to expand their businesses to enable them to engage the youth? The scraping of the E levy and betting tax isn't enough to alleviate the suffering of the masses.
Put simply, the precarious circumstance in which the youth find themselves requires urgent and swift attention to combat this national security issue of unemployment.
In all honesty, the 24-hour economy was just a slogan to deceive the Ghanaian youth who were eagerly waiting for its implementation and successful rollout, but the hopes of the youth have been dashed for that deliberate attempt to spend recklessly in other sectors.
I thought the dismissals would have stopped but the persistent renovations are mind-blowing and shocking. Why dismiss people who were engaged by your predecessor simply to employ your cohorts?
In summary, it thus appears the 24-hour economy is now an albatross at the neck of President Mahama, and what's ongoing depicts a lack of political will to honor your promise after the confidence reposed in you as commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.
The hard-working youth deserve the best and are equally waiting for the 24-hour economy blueprint since it's not even captured in the 2025 budget.
Shalom!
God bless our homeland Ghana!
By: Abdulai Abdul-Razak
Tamale South Constituency
abdulrazakabdulai940@gmail.com
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