WE WILL IMPLEMENT “YOUTH INTEREST ” POLICIES - PROF. JANE NAANA AGYEMAN

Running mate for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC’s) Presidential Candidate, Fmr President John Dramani Mahama, Professor Jane Naana Agyeman has reiterated her party’s resolve to implement what she termed youth_interest policies aimed at presenting myraids of opportunities to the teeming youth of the country.


Professor Jane Naana Agyeman disclosed this on August 12, 2020 at the commemoration of the International Youth Day, 2020, where she ignited the youth to commit to a future of inclusivity, progress and real opportunity for the young people of Ghana.

“I thank the youth wing of the NDC for putting together this important platform that offers us the opportunity to interact as we together commit to a future of inclusivity, progress and real opportunity for the young people of our dear nation”, she said.

The commemoration offers the youth the strong resolve to create a new narrative for the Ghanaian youth_ a narrative of hope and not despair but one that will lift each other up and not giving up, a narrative of dogged determination to build the Ghana well desired, stressing “a Ghana we desire and not abandoning the Ghana project in search of illusionary greener pastures. Together we shall build for ourselves that Ghana we dream of”.

Themed, “Youth Engagement for Global Action”, she indicated that as the global community reflects on the costs and consequences of the challenges posed by covid_19, global communities found themselves exploring the implications of understanding that the old institutions and the old ways were unable to adequately prepare for the risks and opportunities of the 21st century.

The theme for this year, she further noted reminded global communities of the many ways in which the engagement of young people at the local, national and global levels would make those national and multilateral institutions and processes stronger and better.


“And it is a call to encourage more young people not to be distracted or discouraged by cynicism, but rather to get involved and stay engaged”, she stressed.

With Africa’s youth bulge, Professor Jane Naana Agyeman said it was a blessing if well harnessed by the right visionary leadership, then she would be in total agreement with the African Youth Charter that Africa’s youth was a biggest resource.

Professor Jane maintained that her selection as a running mate reflected a leader’s strategic thinking about the critical issues of the time and immediate priorities of the national agenda and the vision of the society for the distribution of power within it and for the culture of the country’s politics.


She indicated that choosing a woman as a running mate was neither for convenience nor convention but for a matter of strong conviction and courage.

Explaining that conviction in the core values of social democracy in expanding justice, extending opportunity and ingaining exclusiveness in the country and the courage to pursue those things.

“That is John Mahama’s vision for progress and that is the vision I have joined this ticket to help him realize,not for his ego or mine, not for the interests of our families or friends, but for you_ the young people of this nation who are our hope for a better Ghana”, she further observed.

She disclosed that the celebration for this year marked exactly a decade when the then Vice President, H.E. John Mahama launched the National Youth Policy to provide a comprehensive framework to guide stakeholders on how to work together to implement what she termed a raft of programmes for youth development with key achievement including increased budgetary allocation to the National Youth Authority for implementation of youth policy)

Amongst some of the major youth policy proposals which were youth_related were the opening up of space for more youth to access legal and medical education, Agenda 1 million jobs, the US$10 billion big push to address Ghana’s infrastructural deficit and create more jobs as well as tablet for all second cycle students and tertiary students, free Wi_Fi for all tertiary institutions and extend overtime to all Senior High schools.

Others are, a University campus for all 6 newly created regions, abolish the double track system, do away with the licensure examination and national Service for graduates, make TVET education free at all levels, free primary health care for all, pay in full all customers of the collapsed financial institutions whose monies are lock_up and restore indigenous Ghanaian participation in the financial sector and institute a national apprenticeship programme in line with the vision of rapid industrialisation and job creation.