Nana Tachie Eric, National Public Relations Officer for the Former NABCO Trainees, has sharply criticized Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s recent proposal to distribute smartphones to Ghanaian youth to solve unemployment.
In a statement released on July 26, Tachie labelled Bawumia’s plan to offer smartphones on a monthly instalment basis of 1 to 2 GHC as an ineffective and superficial approach to addressing the country’s severe youth unemployment crisis.
Tachie argued that the Vice President’s proposal is a “lazy” strategy that fails to address the root causes of unemployment. He urged Bawumia to shift focus from symbolic gestures to implementing comprehensive and sustainable job creation policies.
“The economy is at a critical point, characterized by high unemployment and economic instability. We need substantial solutions, not empty promises,” Tachie said. He expressed frustration over the continuing economic hardships and criticized Bawumia for focusing on mobile phones rather than substantive economic reforms.
Reflecting on the NABCO program, initially introduced to combat unemployment, Tachie criticized its failure to deliver on its promises. Many former trainees have faced delays in allowance payments and uncertainty about their future, exacerbating the unemployment crisis.
Tachie urged Dr Bawumia to take immediate action to address the unemployment crisis by:
- Settling outstanding allowances for NABCO trainees without further delay.
- Developing a comprehensive strategy for sustainable job creation.
- Investing in education and skills development to better prepare young Ghanaians for the job market.
- Creating a business-friendly environment to foster entrepreneurship and innovation.
He emphasized the need for actionable and practical policies rather than superficial measures. “The time for empty promises is over. We demand concrete action to build a prosperous Ghana and address the real challenges facing our youth,” Tachie concluded.
