Gov’t must put youth employment at centre of development – NDC Western Youth

The Western Regional Youth Wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on government to intensify efforts to create sustainable jobs and expand skills development opportunities for young people across the region.

The call was contained in resolutions adopted during the Wing’s 2nd Quadrennial Regional Youth Conference, held at the Takoradi Technical University Auditorium under the theme, “Building on the Past: Empowering the Future.”

According to the group, addressing youth unemployment must remain a key component of national development, with greater attention given to programmes that create decent and sustainable employment across different sectors of the economy.

The Youth Wing urged government to expand investment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), apprenticeships, digital literacy, innovation and entrepreneurship to equip young people with skills relevant to the changing job market.

“The Conference urged increased investment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), apprenticeships, digital literacy, innovation, and entrepreneurship programmes to equip young people with skills that meet the demands of a rapidly evolving labour market.”

The group also called for measures to make it easier for young entrepreneurs to start and expand businesses, including improved access to affordable credit, grants, mentoring, business incubation and markets.

It further urged stronger collaboration between government and the private sector to create more internships, graduate trainee programmes and industrial attachments that can provide young people with pathways into permanent employment.

The Youth Wing said youth empowerment must also be linked to efforts to address illegal mining, particularly in communities where unemployment has pushed some young people into galamsey.

It therefore called for expanded alternative livelihood opportunities in areas such as agribusiness, fisheries, tourism, entrepreneurship and skills development.

According to the group, sustained investment in these areas would not only reduce youth unemployment but also equip young people to contribute meaningfully to the economic transformation of the Western Region.