John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has announced plans to establish a National Apprenticeship Scheme aimed at tackling unemployment in Ghana if elected.
Speaking at a large rally in the Greater Accra region, where thousands of party members and supporters braved the rain to attend, Mahama outlined three key policies he believes will transform the nation. The rally, held at the Nungua town park on Saturday, July 20, featured a 6-kilometer walk by participants.
Mahama emphasized that providing vocational training through the National Apprenticeship Scheme will help bridge the unemployment gap, particularly for those who struggled academically but have practical skills. “The first is the National Apprenticeship Scheme. As I’ve said before, not all our children are endowed with the same mental ability. You can have the same children sitting in the same class when the teacher teaches, one is able to catch it immediately and so you would think that he’s smart, he’s knowledgeable, he’s intelligent,” Mahama said.
He added, “There’s another one who’s slow to learn and so we might do an exam, the sharp one will continue to the University and all that. But it doesn’t mean that the one who doesn’t catch it quickly does not have the talent God gave him. Take those two; the one you say is slow and the one who’s smart and put them in an environment where they have to use their hands, and you will find out that the other one is better able and more skillful than the one who gets A in class.”
Mahama also pledged to establish a Women’s Bank to address the financial needs of women in business, recognizing their significant economic contributions. He highlighted that a 24-hour economy would be a key driver for the country’s growth.
Encouraging party members, Mahama urged them to safeguard the ballot at polling stations and assured them that his policies would benefit all Ghanaians who support the NDC. He announced that the NDC’s official campaign for the 2024 election will kick off in Tamale on July 27, marking the beginning of an extensive nationwide campaign.
“Our strategy will be to introduce the National Apprenticeship Scheme so that for those who cannot continue into tertiary education, they will be able to go into an apprenticeship and learn a skill with their hands so they can also find work,” Mahama concluded.
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