Bawumia promises youth empowerment with focus on education, skills, and jobs

Vice President and flagbearer for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has outlined an ambitious plan to support and empower Ghana’s youth through policies centred on education, skills training, and job creation. 

Speaking in a nationally televised address on Sunday, Dr. Bawumia emphasised his commitment to creating opportunities for young people across the country should he be elected President.

Dr. Bawumia explained that his proposed youth agenda is informed by extensive consultations and engagement with young people nationwide, who consistently highlighted education, skills, and job creation as their top priorities.

“From what I gathered in my interactions with you, I can sum up the priorities of the majority of you, in three major categories: Education, Skills, and Jobs,” he said. 

Expanding educational opportunities

Dr. Bawumia pledged to build on the existing Free SHS policy, which has already benefited over five million students, and to further increase educational accessibility at all levels. “The NPP government, recognising and understanding that there are conditions that create sustainable and decent jobs, has implemented numerous policies to this effect,” he noted, highlighting the Free SHS programme as one of the cornerstones of these efforts. 

He also pointed to the importance of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) and the integration of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. “There is a need to train Ghana's labour force with the right skills needed to drive industrialisation,” Dr. Bawumia added. “In the last 8 years, we have invested massively in TVET and STEM to prepare the country's emerging labour force with the necessary skills and education for the 4th Industrial Revolution.” 

Creating friendly economic environment for jobs

In addition to education and skills training, Dr. Bawumia stressed the importance of an “economic environment conducive to business growth and job creation.” Underpinning his strategy is the belief that the private sector is the engine of growth and a vital partner for job creation. “With our philosophy of economic liberalism, we believe it is our responsibility to create an enabling environment for the private sector to flourish,” he explained.

One major pillar of Dr. Bawumia’s economic vision is to reduce government expenditure by partnering with the private sector in infrastructure and public service provision. He detailed plans for public-private partnerships (PPP) that would encourage private enterprises to invest in roads, schools, and housing projects on a rental or lease-to-own basis. “The private sector will be encouraged to build roads, schools, hostels, and houses for government to rent or lease to own,” he said. This strategy, he suggested, would free up substantial funds for other needs.

Through such measures, Dr. Bawumia estimates the government could save approximately 3 percent of Ghana’s GDP annually, or GHC30 billion. This, he asserts, would represent a “major paradigm shift” in Ghana’s approach to economic growth.

Building a future-ready workforce

By fostering a workforce equipped with relevant skills and supported by a robust private sector, Dr. Bawumia believes Ghana can provide sustainable, well-paying jobs for its citizens. “Once you have an education and acquire employable skills, what is left is to thrive in an economic environment that can generate a large and expansive pool of good jobs with good pay,” he said.

Dr. Bawumia’s vision for Ghana’s youth underscores his commitment to what he describes as “sustainable and decent jobs,” and he affirmed his commitment to partnering with the private sector in achieving this goal. 

“Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, we will continue investing in our youth, creating educational and employment opportunities, and supporting a thriving private sector for all Ghanaians,” he concluded.