- NPP tries to appease youth with jobs amid Kenya uprising fears.
- Banking sector collapse led to 20,000+ job losses.
- Security agency recruitment lacks transparency.
- Ayariga warns of scandal, demands fair opportunity for all youth.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration is attempting to appease the youth of Ghana with promises of employment opportunities, fearing a repeat of the youth uprising in Kenya, according to Mahama Ayariga, Member of Parliament for Bawku Central.
The banking sector collapse, which resulted in over 20,000 job losses, has had a devastating impact on the youth, with many struggling to find employment. The NPP’s recent announcement of 11,000 recruitment into the security agencies is seen as an attempt to calm the nerves of the youth, but Ayariga warns that the lack of transparency in the recruitment process may fuel more anger against the political class.
Ayariga emphasizes the need for a fair and equal opportunity for all youth, regardless of political connections, to be considered for the recruitment. He describes the recruitment exercise as potentially the greatest scandal in Ghana’s security sector recruitment history and calls for resistance against it.
The Interior Minister’s announcement that the 11,000 recruits will be selected from a preexisting list of youth applicants has raised concerns, with the Minority in Parliament calling for a probe. The NPP government’s decision to share 30 slots each to their Parliamentary Candidates to distribute to their party footsoldiers has also been criticized.
Ayariga warns that this rogue exercise may lead to further unrest among the youth, who feel marginalized and excluded from the political process. He urges the government to prioritize transparency and fairness in the recruitment process to avoid further alienating the youth.
The youth uprising in Kenya has served as a wake-up call for the NPP administration, but their attempts to appease the youth may be too little, too late, if not done in a transparent and fair manner.
