Just as she was becoming demotivated, the 23-year-old’s persistence was rewarded as she was offered a job as a trainee accountant after her 647th application.

But after 18 months of job hunting, Caitlin was left wondering if going to university for four years and getting a degree was worth it.

Latest research from the Institute of Student Employers shows competition for graduate roles is at a “record high” as estimates suggest there were 1.2 million applications for 17,000 graduate vacancies last year.

Setting herself a target of sending two applications a day, Caitlin was immediately rejected 150 times without feedback and did not hear back from 271 other applications.

She said: “I put so much effort into my applications and so much time that when I didn’t hear back from them that I just wondered what made my application not worthy of feedback?”

Caitlin completed a year in industry as part of her finance and accounting degree at Swansea University and hoped it would help her stand out when applying for roles.

Instead, she has a spreadsheet filled with rejections dating back to September 2023.

“I worked hard for my degree and had experience so was thinking, was it worth it?

“There was a period where I was feeling completely demotivated and didn’t believe in going to university or getting degree.”

Caitlin thinks the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by companies as part of their filtering process could be a reason why she did not get very far in some applications.

She said initially her CV was not written in a way that could be read by some resume screening programmes where AI is used to read CVs.

“I was just getting straight rejections, whereas after adjusting it, sometimes you’d be invited to an assessment after you’ve applied,” said Caitlin.

“Had I have known that from the get-go, that would’ve helped me with my other applications.”

She reached the assessment stages for 221 of the roles she applied for and had five final interviews before getting a job.

The latest data estimates that an average of 140 applications were received for each available graduate job in 2024.

The Institute of Student Employers spoke to 145 companies that hired almost 40,000 new students and the body said applications were the highest for 30 years – a more than 50% rise from 2023.

The figures showed that for finance roles like the ones Caitlin applied for, an average of 188 applications were submitted for each role.

Following months of uncertainty after graduating last year, Caitlin has been offered her first degree-level job and will move from her home in Tintern, Monmouthshire, to London to become a trainee accountant in September.

“It was exactly what I wanted and is offering all the courses I want to do in finance,” she said.

“I just wished it would’ve happened a bit quicker.”

Despite Wales having the lowest proportion of graduates in the UK workforce, the group that represents universities believes the demand for graduate-level skills will grow by 2035.

“While we recognise that today’s job market presents real challenges for many people, research shows that a degree continues to boost lifetime earnings, career prospects and personal development,” said a Universities Wales spokesperson.

“University offers a transformative experience that not only benefits individuals but also strengthens our communities and economy.”

Thousands more students are now preparing to follow in Caitlin’s footsteps this summer.

Huw Williams is getting ready to start his role as Bangor University Student Union’s Welsh officer for 12 months, before returning to education next year.

“I think I’ll apply to be on a teachers’ training course in history, a career pathway I’ve always been interested in,” said the 21-year-old.

While Huw knows what the next year looks like for him, the future is not so clear for fellow Bangor graduate Alaw Simpson.

The 21-year-old is returning home to nearby Anglesey, where she hopes to find her first graduate-level job.

She said, “I want to move on from education and try something different.

“It is a worry because it can be very difficult to find professional jobs these days.”

Recruitment experts have said many employers now focus on attitude and personal behaviour.

“Getting your first job post-education is the biggest step because you might not necessarily have a lot of experience,” said James Fortnam of Robert Half Recruitment.

“I think there’s a lot of noise with employers with a sheer number of applicants for an opportunity, so it’s really difficult for clients to whittle that down.

“It’s really important applicants tailor their CV to the opportunity.”

Mr Fortnam has said some firms use technology to help assess applicants’ skills.

“Companies will use software tools to match somebody’s CV to the job,” he said.

“Because they won’t have had huge volumes of experience, typically a lot of graduates sometimes appear lower on that matching capacity.”

Dubbed “Just One Bold Step”, the nationwide effort aims to empower Ghanaians, especially youth and vulnerable groups, to secure decent jobs through accessible and inclusive employment services.

The campaign is being rolled out in collaboration with the EU-Germany-Ghana Joint Action for Jobs, Migration and Development (JMD) and will travel through several regions, including Greater Accra, Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo.

At each stop, the roadshow will provide free employment services, promote legal and safe migration pathways, and serve as a bridge between job seekers, employers, and key stakeholders.

“Our mission is to empower Ghanaians—especially young people—to access sustainable jobs,” said Dawuda Ibrahim Braimah, Acting Chief Labour Officer. “If you’re looking for a job or want to advertise vacancies, the Labour Department is here to help. Register at www.glmis.gov.gh and take that bold first step.”

Empowering Ghana’s workforce

The JOBS campaign is designed to increase public awareness of the Labour Department’s free employment services while enhancing job placement outcomes by leveraging the Ghana Labour Market Information System (GLMIS).

This centralized digital platform enables efficient job matching, tracks labour trends, and consolidates employment-related data across sectors.

Dr. Lilian Amankwa Fobi Ashia, Technical Advisor at GIZ Ghana, emphasized the strategic partnership’s capacity-building efforts.

“JMD is proud to support this initiative. We’ve invested in IT training for Labour Department staff, provided vehicles, and refurbished regional offices to make services more accessible and effective,” she said.

A call to action

 The roadshow specifically targets young graduates, vocational trainees, the diaspora, academia, and potential migrants, while also welcoming employers, women, and persons with disabilities.

Through interactive engagements, the campaign will build trust in public employment systems and encourage collaboration on recruitment and skills development.

Rev. Ms. Charlotte Hanson, Public Relations Officer at the Ministry, highlighted the importance of consolidating labour market data.

“Our challenge isn’t the lack of data—it’s that it’s scattered,” she noted. “With the Labour Department’s new systems, we can now analyze employment trends and better prepare for the future of our youth.”

Members of the public are encouraged to visit any Labour Department office or Public Employment Centre during the campaign or register online at www.glmis.gov.gh to connect with opportunities and take that vital first step toward sustainable employment.

He made this known during the launch of the Adwumawura Programme, which took place at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi on Monday, April 28, 2025, drawing a significant audience of government officials, young entrepreneurs, and community leaders.

He further explained that the programme is designed to provide financial support to both new and existing Ghanaian businesses, as well as offer coaching to young entrepreneurs, with the goal of generating 10,000 jobs annually.

“The Adwumawura Programme is more than a policy. It is a commitment — a lifeline — to the countless young men and women who rise every morning with big dreams but are often met with closed doors. It is a bold promise that no dream is small, no idea too insignificant, and that under the leadership of President Mahama, every youth will have the opportunity to soar.

Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, in 2014 — through the Youth Enterprise Support Fund, which has today evolved into the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) — thousands of young businesses, started by daring and determined Ghanaians, have been nurtured and supported.”

He added, “On behalf of the countless young entrepreneurs whose lives have been transformed because of your vision, Mr. President, I say: thank you. And to the many more who are about to embark on their journey with the Adwumawura Programme, I say: your time has come!

Today, the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, with the strong backing of the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, stands ready. We will not just launch businesses. We will nurture dreams. We will build legacies. We will light the path for generations to come. Through partnerships with development partners, industry leaders, private sector players, civil society, and of course, the vibrant youth themselves, we are poised to make this initiative the turning point for youth entrepreneurship in Ghana.”

About NEIP

The National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) is a comprehensive initiative by the Ghanaian government designed to foster entrepreneurship and spur economic growth by supporting start-ups and small businesses.

Here’s a deeper look into various aspects of the programme:

1. Objective and Vision:
   NEIP’s primary objective is to create a robust ecosystem for entrepreneurship that supports start-ups and small businesses, driving them towards success and sustainability. This aligns with a broader vision to consolidate Ghana’s middle-income status by building an industry-driven economy capable of providing sustainable and decent jobs.

2. Key Initiatives:

   • Presidential Business Support Programme: Provides training, funding, and mentorship to help entrepreneurs grow businesses that are competitive both locally and internationally.

   • Greenhouse Initiative: Focused on agriculture, it houses the largest greenhouse estate in West Africa, aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability.

   • Hubs Acceleration Grant Programme (HAGP): Offers grants of up to $200,000 to support innovation and entrepreneurship hubs in improving their services to global standards and building the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

3. Sector Focus:
   NEIP prioritizes non-resource-based sectors such as technology, agriculture, and manufacturing. Programmes like “Youth in Innovative Agriculture Support” aim to promote smart farming and agro-processing to increase productivity and sustainability in agriculture.

4. Inclusion and Support:
   The programme actively promotes participation from women, youth, and persons with disabilities, tapping into their potential to drive innovation and entrepreneurial success.

5. Monitoring and Impact:
   To ensure accountability and effectiveness, NEIP conducts continuous monitoring and evaluation of its projects. This process helps track progress, measure impact on the economy and job creation, and refine its strategies accordingly.

NEIP stands as a vital tool in Ghana’s effort to build an entrepreneurial culture, enhance business capacity, and drive economic development.

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In recent years, Ghanaian health workers, particularly nurses, have increasingly migrated to seek better pay and working conditions abroad.

Speaking during his vetting before the Appointments Committee on Friday, January 31, Mr. Akandoh acknowledged the growing unemployment rate in Ghana’s health sector.

He emphasized the importance of fostering international partnerships to address the challenge.

“The unemployment situation among health professionals is alarming. The challenge largely stems from constraints on the wage bill.

“Therefore, we need to establish links with other countries to facilitate the migration of these professionals and create employment opportunities for them,” he said.

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Dr. Bawumia cited data from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and other sources, indicating that the government has created approximately 2.6 million jobs, with 1.4 million in the private sector and 1.2 million in the public sector.

He said this achievement reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening Ghana’s economy and expanding opportunities for its citizens.

While acknowledging the current economic challenges, Dr. Bawumia reassured the public of his dedication to further job creation if elected in the December elections.

“We have done a remarkable job in creating jobs in the last seven years. Indeed, as of yesterday or the day before… I checked the data from SSNIT and other sources, and so far, between 2017 and 2024, the latest data is that we have created 2.6 million jobs.
“1.4 million in the private sector and 1.2 million in the public sector. This is the highest of any government in the 4th Republic and the highest job creation. We have more to do because we still have high unemployment. Our youth still need jobs,” Bawumia said during his engagement with the youth in Accra on Sunday, November 3.

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The government has created more than 350,000 jobs through the coconut value chain in the last seven and half years.

The employment was generated through significant investment in the coconut sub-sector since 2017 by procuring and distributing disease-tolerant coconut seedlings to coconut farmers across the major coconut growing regions including Volta, Eastern, Western, Central and Ashanti.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Exports Promotion Authority (GEPA), Dr Afua Asabea Asare, said so far, the government, through the GEPA, had distributed over one million seedlings covering 15,625 acres to farmers, generating about 350,000 employments within the value chain.

She explained that it was under the coconut revitalisation intervention aimed at reviving the ailing coconut industry to improve the supply capacity of the value chain, having realised the growing demand trend for coconut globally.

Speaking at the opening of the International Coconut Festival Ghana in Accra last Monday, Dr Asare stated that the coconut industry had grown into one of the most dynamic sectors, not only contributing significantly to the country’s export base but also touching  the lives of many families and communities in positive ways.

The festival

The yearly festival brings together players in the coconut value chain, including growers, exporters and researchers, mainly from academia to discuss issues that can support the development of the industry.

The fourth edition, which was held between October 21 and 23, 2024, was on the theme, “Empowering lives through coconut: Innovation, employment and sustainable livelihoods.

Speakers and panellists included the Country Director, Solidaridad, Eric Agyare; CEO, the Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA), William A. Quaittoo; President, the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Dr Joseph Obeng and the Chief Director, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Paul Siameh.

The opening was chaired by the CEO of JIREH Micro-Finance, Dr Akorfa Ahiafor.

It was organised by the African Coconut Group (ACG) with support from the GEPA, the Western Regional Coordinating Council (WRCC) and other corporate entities.

Capacity building

The CEO said the GEPA was committed to supporting this innovative spirit by providing platforms for capacity building, research and technological advancement to ensure that Ghanaian coconut products remained competitive and sustainable.

He said the coconut industry had already proven its potential to create thousands of jobs, particularly for women and the youth.

“By supporting initiatives that expand processing facilities, improve access to finance and encourage entrepreneurship, we can significantly boost employment opportunities in this sector.

“The smallholder farmers, who cultivate the crop to the processors and exporters, the industry supports thousands of direct and indirect jobs. What is even more promising is the potential for more job creation as the sector continues to expand,” he said.

Credit facility

For his part, Mr Siameh who represented his minister, stated that the government had secured a $200-million credit facility from the World Bank to further develop four key crops, including coconut, cashew, rubber and cocoa.

He said the facility, which was made possible through the Tree Crop Development Authority, would be used for institutional strengthening and value chain governance to ensure efficient and effective oversight of the sub-sectors of improved crop productivity.

He said it was expected to support climate resilience to safeguard long-term agriculture sustainability, back post-harvest management value addition and market access to maximise economic benefits of the coconut industry.

Beacon of hope

The Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere-Darko, said the coconut industry emerged as a beacon of hope that promised a transformative impact.

“There is, therefore, the need to showcase the versatility and potential of coconut-based products and the contribution it has made to the local economies of many countries across the globe, especially the Asian countries,” in a speech read on his behalf by a representative, Fredrick Agyemang.

According to the party’s parliamentary candidate for Nhyieaso, Faustina Dery, there will be jobs for school dropouts.

Madam Faustina Dery addressed the people of Dakojomu when she organised a free breast screening exercise in the Nhieaso constituency.

She emphasised the need to carry all people along in the job creation agenda of the NDC.

“Not everyone benefited from Education which most are into apprenticeship, the NDC government has put in good  measures to support such people,” she said

“My office will be widely open to support the youth into apprenticeship program.”

A member of the NDC national campaign team, Dr. Mary Awisi, said the time has come for Ghanaians to chase the NPP out of government.

“There is no trust in the Npp flagbearer Dr Bawumia, because he is part to the current poor government which he has nothing better to offer to Ghanaians” she stated.

Some residents of Dakojomu who benefited from the breast screening exercise share their excitement.

During a tour of the Ahafo Region, NDC flagbearer John Dramani Mahama accused the NPP of making false claims to garner votes.

The NPP has been highlighting its achievements in various sectors, including job creation, as part of its campaign for re-election.

However, Mahama argued that the unemployment rate has actually increased under the NPP, rising from 8% during the NDC’s tenure to nearly 15%.

He questioned the existence of these 2 million jobs, pointing out that many in the region have not seen the purported benefits.

Mahama also emphasized the need for a 24-hour economy to create more job opportunities for Ghanaians.

“We cannot be deceived any more. We’ll create jobs for the youth to be employed. The unemployment rate during the NDC’s government was 8%. However, the current unemployment rate under the NPP government is 14%, which is almost 15%. But this government claimed they have created over 2 million jobs,” he stated.

“I’m asking, where are the jobs? How come the people here have not benefited from them? This is a tactic to win votes. That is why the NDC government has proposed a 24-hour economy, which will create more job opportunities,” he added.

Source: Adomonline

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Naa Seidu Nantogmah, who doubles as the Vice President of the North-East Regional House of Chiefs, said most of the youth in the country are unemployed, therefore the introduction of the E-levy will affect them badly.

According to him, the government should offer the youth in the country job opportunities in order to boost tax payments in the country.

“Government should create jobs for citizens to be employed so they can happily pay their taxes,” he said.

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Speaking on Adom News, he stated that the E-Levy, if passed, might not be used to create jobs but rather be mismanaged by politicians.

“If I watch what is happening at the Parliament House it tells me that, they don’t love the country,” he noted.

The paramount chief disclosed that most of the young ladies in his community have left to the cities to engage in ‘Kayaye’ due to the lack of jobs in the area, therefore, the need for the government to create jobs instead of passing the E-Levy bill.

“There is no job in my town apart from farming. So, if the government supports our farming activities and the citizens get money, there wouldn’t be any problem when the government introduces the tax,” he said.

In six separate letters, four to the Interior Minister (for Police, Fire Service, Immigration and Prisons Service) and the remaining two to the Education and National Security Ministers confirming the clearance to employ staff members, the Finance Minister said that the effective date for the people to be recruited will be 1st of August 2021.

Interior

The letter to the Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Dery, states that the Ministry “is hereby granted financial clearance to enable the Comptroller-Genera, of Ghana Immigration Service to recruit 2,000, the Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service to recruit 2,000, Chief Fire Officer to recruit 2,000, and the Inspector General of Police to recruit 5,000, personnel to augment the staffing position of the Services.”

“The emoluments of the personnel should be charged against the Compensation of Employees vote of the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Police Service, National Fire Service and Ghana Prisons Service, under the Ministry of the Interior in the 2021 Annual Estimates,” the clearance letter stated.

National Security

The Ministry of National Security per the Finance Minister’s letter, dated the 21st of June 2021, grants financial clearance to enable the National Signals Bureau to recruit additional 100 and the National Intelligence Bureau to recruit 140 individuals to augment its workforce.

“The emoluments of the personnel should be charged against the Compensation of Employees vote of the Ministry of National Security in the 2021 Annual Estimates. The Hon. Minister for National Security is to ensure that the engaged staff have their documents processed in time and placed on the Mechanized Payroll early enough to enable the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department effect payment of their salaries,” the Finance Minister directed.

Education Ministry

In the education sector, the Finance Minister by his letter addressed to the Education Minister, has granted financial clearance to enable the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service to recruit 600 ICT coordinators for the Service.

“Approval is also granted for their emoluments to be charged against the Compensation of Employees vote of Ministry of Education in the 2021 budget.

“The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service is to ensure that the ICT coordinators have their documents processed in time and placed on the mechanized payroll early enough to enable the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department effect payment,” the clearance letter to the Education Minister stated.

Timelines

All the financial clearance directive to the three ministries will expire on the 31st of December 2021 and as such, the Ministries are to ensure that the recruitment are carried out before the expiration date.

According to him, the jobs created by the government is a combination of both private and public sector jobs respectively.

This follows a revelation by the Employment Minister, Ignatius Baffour-Awuah who on February 17, 2021, told the Appointments Committee that a total of 3 million jobs had been created as of September 2020 under the Akufo-Addo government.

But appearing before the Appointments Committee of Parliament today, Wireko-Brobby said the jobs created by government were as a result of implementation of flagship initiatives rolled out by the Akufo-Addo-led administration.

These initiatives include the Planting for Food and Jobs, Planting for Food and Export, among others.

However, a member of the Committee, Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu demanded details of the said jobs created.

He, however, maintained his stance, saying, “Mr. Chairman, as at the last count, when I was being briefed in the Ministry, it stood at around 3.8 million from 2017 to date. Including those in the informal sector and those in the agric sector planting for food and jobs.”

Wireko-Brobby who also doubles as Member of Parliament for Hemang Lower Denkyira constituency also denied media reports suggesting that he had allegedly shared stolen fertilizers from COCOBOD to electorates to amass votes in the just ended 2020 elections.

According to him, the allegations were unfounded and false.

“Mr. Chairman, the honourable member is making an allegation, and this matter was dealt with finally at the law court and the court determined and the court pronounced judgement on that so I am surprised honourable member is saying that they were stolen from COCOBOD. No,” he said.

Mr Awuku said most of the beneficiaries of the earlier modules after exiting their two-year stay on the module went back to the labour market unemployed; hence the modules were not really solving the unemployment situation in the country.

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He made this assertion on Accra-based Peace FM, monitored by Adomonline.com.

He was of the view that the launch of the new four initiatives which are innovative, employable and self-sustaining programmes, will redirect the narrative of the Agency, serve as a fortune for beneficiaries and a panacea to all exit challenges faced by the beneficiaries of the Agency.

YEA’s new initiatives are expected to provide between 50,000 and 100,000 jobs for the youth over the next five years.

Source: Adomonline.com | Fuaad Dodoo

He said this during the presentation of the government’s budget statement for 2019 to Parliament today November, 15, 2018.

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Outlining the policy initiatives, he said, “the government has created 88,000 job in the country of which NABCO is the largest job creation policy in the country, the initiative focuses in solving public service delivery in health, education, agriculture, technology, governance and drive revenue mobilization and collection”.

The budget reflected the government’s effort in the creation of jobs to address the level of unemployment of youth and graduates and to solve social problems.

The Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) was launched by His Excellency the President of the Republic Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as part of government’s initiative to provide jobs for the country’s unemployed graduates.

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The seven modules under NABCO is meant to help address the challenges facing the nation’s most pressing sectors while providing jobs to graduates who are unable to find jobs partly due to a ban on public sector employment by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The recruits will be receiving a monthly stipend of GHC700.

According to him, he has never gotten such massive job numbers under any government throughout his time in parliament.

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“This is my first time I have been able to get 700 jobs for my people. Call them and ask if I’m telling a lie. The secret is that this government is really working”, he said.

According to him, he has managed to get jobs at COCOBOD, Forestry Commission, Community Policing among others.

“At Youth Employment, I got jobs there and you think we are joking”, he quizzed.

Kennedy Agyapong disclosed this on Adom TV’s Morning Show, “Badwam” Tuesday.

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Mr Kennedy Agyapong also said when he secured such jobs, he shared them according to the communities in his constituency, saying he keeps retaining his seat because his people believe in him.

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“When I give them the jobs, I don’t ask where they are coming from and I think that is why I’m always winning and retaining my seat,” he said.

So here I am, thumbing up a nose at a presentation the Hon. Senior Minister made in the stead of the Vice President of Ghana, His Excellency Alhaji Dr. MahamudBawumia as guest Speaker to the Ghana @ 60 Economic Forum on 7th August, 2017 where he hinted of public sector layoffs as an option to build and sustain the Ghanaian economy.
His alternative recommendation for the future of jobs sounded like an ideal child of the International Monitory Fund (IMF) yet many Youth in Ghana are left hapless if He helps IMF to succeed at shirking government’s responsibility to make the state work out jobs for citizens as specified in the constitutional provision above. I am scandalized by such pronouncements pouring in at this dawn of the new administration. I wish it was Dr. Bawumia himself who addressed this forum as planned guest speaker and presented such for our attention. Then we would have just been reminding him of the era where some selfish wicked evil elements took to the IMF and returned to confused us with terms like “Public Sector Rationalization, Public Sector Freezing, this, that”, etc until he came hard at them to earn our trust and confidence to safe Ghanaian youth of Joblessness. We thought the change in verdict was promissory to jobs but alas.
Anyways, in the final analysis, this thinking of labor as a burden, smacks a close appreciation of the picture. Why would a critical resource like labor, I mean vibrant youthful labor be a burden to a young economy with enormous industrial potentials like Ghana?Classical Economies all over are shrinking because of bottom line deficits in both actuals and labor forecasts.
Infact Germany is a recent example. Why would Germany of all countries in the EU, open her doors for Refugees, offer scholarships for Refugees and activate a protectionist regime for the welfare of Refugees?The Dutch also understands and evidence abounds that their medical and engineering sectors can only survive the future via skills importation from Africa and China.
Yes! China understood the game of exporting skills much earlier and merged it beautifully with what Paul Collier referred as STATE CAPITALISM.
So over to you Mr. Hon.Snr. Minister. You mentioned so many models from countries that are what they are today because they in part or wholly robbed us but you ignored such establishment in your presentation. What about the state capitalism model that worked for China? Which private sector must harness the blessings in our youth for our country? In any case, could any private sector or the sum of all private sector players be more stronger and capable than the government we handed to you because we believe you could think differently to get things done for our collective good?  To what extent are you convinced that private sector jobs support or guarantee citizens welfare? How much real income is disposed and equitably shared by the private sector?
I grew up to meet a stadium in faraway locations like Wa, Bolga, Lawra and Tumu.  It means someone at some point in time in our Nation’s history, understood the responsibility of the state to equitably distribute state resources.
With this our lazy thinking, we have killed almost all local industries. Tumu was a fine enclave for Cotton production and still have the promise of Jobs if revived. In 2012, we took our private sector mantra high. Got OLAM of all to move there and what are the results?  Where is OLAM today and where is Cotton and Tumu? Where are the jobs?
Again, we got another selfish appreciation of Public Private Partner(PPP) and brought private sector players like Agambire g (RLG), Joseph Oppong (Zoomlion) and  other gang of merciless robbers, resourced them more than even the entire Ministries of Agriculture, Local Government, Youth and Sports, etc and watched as they squandered our taxes in the name of Planting trees in our villages on behalf of our farmers, rearing Guinea  fowls, collecting our wastes on behalf of our District Assemblies,  naming even our streets on behalf of our Town Country Planning Departments,  managing our poor workers’ pensions, training our youth and employing them because IMF says we should reduce public sector and go private.   What are the results?  What is the quality of the jobs they created?  Where are even those jobs today?  Yet those private sector “angels” are filthy rich today courtesy your very own class mates in this game of thinking.
Let’s define our own governance and economic parameters, work out our own model and drop these funny models from our detectors. IMF should have been the last to dine with at this moment in our development history.Moreso, given how you invited us to bastardize the previous government for taking Ghana on that economic path.
If you still want to take us to this lazy thinking about shrinking space in the public sector, please be kind and honest to the people of Ghana by starting the layoffs from those children and relatives of yours in the public sector as well as children of all other MPs and Ministers that just got to, are yet to and are even serving in the public sector already.
Come on guys, when Donald Trump got to the White House with his reality show, Americans, both republicans and democrats rose in unison to stay wait, stop,  these are the people that made America great! These are the things that brought us results this far!
So in observance of President AkufoAddo’s call to citizenship, let’s “be citizens, citizens, not spectators” to tell our politicians that they must think for all of us. We don’t want party-private- sector or one-man create-loot-share National building tactics. We all pay taxes and want to share the pride of delivering all the basket of goods to our publics therein. If you can not manage us as a public, please you have no business enjoying the trust of our thumb prints. We queued to vote for alternatives!
It was the Public sector that build Tema motorway and the entire Tema, same public sector built, rail ways, dams, roads and other legacy infrastructure across the length and breadth during the formative stages of this republic which we as IMF generational Economists, are yet to replicate any serious stint of. So please make it work for us like it did for Kwame Nkrumah and at best Col. Acheampong.
Away to this lazy thinking! Whose child, brother or even father or mother must go home because of public sector bloating and who must go to work on same terms?
This thinking is dead wrong!!!

According to the coalition, the Tamale Central, Tamale North, Tamale South and Sagnarigu constituency executives have so far been sidelined in the Akufo-Addo government.

The coalition posited that some constituency executives who applied for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executive portfolios were shortchanged.

The coalition thus admonished President Akufo-Addo to appoint some of them as Coordinators for the Youth Employment Authority (YEA), Macro and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Below is the coalition’s petition copied citifmonline.com.

Petition on the marginalization of constituency executives

We the undersigned group is a coalition of polling station executives in the four constituencies of the Tamale metro and Sagnarigu district of the northern region. We wish to petition you on the marginalization of our constituency executives in the area.

This petition comes on the back of the fact that, some of our executives have develop the interest in job opportunities under your office.

Hon Minister, we are concerned on the appointment of the Area manager of MASLOC, which there seeming rumors suggesting that government is considering the appointment of an unknown individual to that portfolio.

We wish to crave your indulgence that, we shall not accept any individual who is not familiar with us at the grassroots. In fact, we equally have qualified personalities who can man the affairs of that office.

As party officers, we have worked with these constituency executives and there is a solid and cordial relationship established among us in the area.

As a result, it is in our view that, the Northern Sector MASLOC Area Manager office must be given to Mr. Musah Mutawakilu, Tamale Central Constituency Secretary.

Mr. Minister, we believe you are a minister of state due to the fact that, the NPP has won an election. We wish to avert a situation where our party will be in power and our fate still in the balance. Do you imagine life a day without employment?

Moreover, some qualified constituency executive committee members who applied for appointment in various positions have been denied appointment or yet to be appointed.

They include Mr. Musah Mutawakilu, Secretary for the Tamale Central, Adam Yussif, Chairman of Tamale North Constituency as Sagnarigu DCE, Abu Mohammed Secretary for Tamale South as Tamale metro NHIS Manager, Yakubu Abdallah Iddrisu, Secretary for Tamale North as Sagnarigu district NHIS Manager and Adam Mohammed Bukari, Sagnarigu Constituency Chairman among others.

We have suffered far too long. Enough is enough.

…….Signed…….

Mohammed Gadafi.

Secretary, Coalition of NPP polling station executives, Northern Region.

According to him, industrial jobs will soon come back in force as the government offers stimulus package for private businesses in the manufacturing sector to undergo a renaissance.

Addressing a teeming crowd of New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters at a thanksgiving rally in Kumasi on Sunday, the minister disclosed that the government had outlined 10 programmes for job creation in the country, one of which he claimed, is the stimulus package for businesses.

Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen (popularly called Alan K) mentioned the ‘one district, one factory’ project as well as the creation of an industrial park to bolster manufacturing in all the 10 regional capitals, as some of the well thought-through programmes to ensure job creation.

The minister said Kumasi and its environs would be made an industrial zone, and steps would be taken to complete the Boankra inland port project to facilitate trade and support industrial setting.

”Government is leading the revival of manufacturing in Ghana to boost the economy and create jobs for our people. This is one of the many things for which we were voted. When you walk through the street, job wafts through the air, and we want to give the assurance that industrial jobs are coming,” Mr Kyerematen stressed.

Minister of Youth and Sports, Isaac Asiamah, said the government would create jobs through sports and urged the youth of the country to take advantage of the opportunities that would be made available.

He also called for support and prayer for the NPP government to succeed in its quest to transform the nation – after many years of hardship and suffering.

The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Akoto Osei, revealed plans by the government to revamp the sector and create wealth for people involved in agriculture.

source: daily guide