Aspiring Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Upper East Region have promised to work to end the embarrassing unemployment situation faced residents if voted for.
Parliamentary candidates of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP) and People’s National Convention (PNC) said the situation is dire and they are willing to do something to ease the problem.
Speaking on the JOYNEWS' political discussion programme, Ballot Box Friday, the aspiring MPs for the Builsa South and North Constituencies admitted to the teething issue of unemployment in the Region.
The Ballot Box programme gives electorates the opportunity to vote for issues that will determine how they will vote in the upcoming elections. It also brings MPs, Minister of state, District and Municipal Chief Executives (DCEs and MCEs) close to their constituents to ask them questions about developments in their regions.
In attendance to answer questions from the residents were a presidential staffer, Clement Apaak; Thomas Alonsi, an aspiring for NPP; Alhassan Azong who is the incumbent PNC MP,an aspiring NPP MP, Daniel Gariba, an aspiring NPP MP as well as the Builsa District Chief Executive, Elizabeth Jane Afuic.
A teacher charged the politicians to stop the scourge of youth running down south to engage in all sorts of menial jobs and return home with diseases.
He suggested for whoever wins the election to consider supporting the youth with their farming activities since most of them have farms.
Another resident who attended the programme wants the candidates to support the youth in entrepreneurship programmes so that they can own their businesses.
He also called for attention for technical and vocational education to provide the youth with skills. This, he believes will improve their competitiveness to get jobs easily.
Mr Azong who is the incumbent PNC MP promised his party would roll out an internship project to address the employment deficit in the region. According to him, this project would be first be piloted to determine its effectiveness.
Mr Azong also disclosed that on his own, he already supports a number of young ladies to learn hairdressing, adding the party is planning to establish a vocational training institute to equip the people with employable skills.
Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com