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01.11.2011 Press Statement

WE NEED ACTION PLAN NOW!

01.11.2011 LISTEN
By Murtala Mohammed

(A PRESS STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL YOUTH ORGANISER OF THE CPP TO MARK AFRICA YOUTH DAY)

We the youth of the Convention People's Party (CPP) have watched with dismay how successive governments have been toying with the destiny of the youth in this country.

It is unfortunate that 19 years into the 4th Republic, Ghana has still not put together an action plan that shows our commitment towards the implementation of the country's National Youth Policy.

We see this as a deliberate political gimmick by the so-called two major political parties to cow the youth of the country into perpetual submission and this can no longer be tolerated.

We the youth of the CPP are therefore asking President Mills and his government to consider as a matter of urgency, the need to come out with an Action Plan that will define the future of Ghanaian youth.

On July 21st, 1999, when government launched a youth policy, we thought it was a symbol of hope to the youth of Ghana to safe guard our future and that of generations yet unborn. Unfortunately with the change of government in 2000, the policy was suspended with the excuse that what had been produced was not an action plan. In effect, not a single programme in that policy was implemented.

In November, 2008 cabinet gave its blessing to yet another youth policy. Here again, there was a change in government, thus stalling the implementation of that action plab too. The NDC government also pushed it aside under the pretext that, it was an NPP document which runs contrary to their “better Ghana agenda”.

After some agitations, the Government passed the National Youth Policy devoid of an action plan. We can no longer sit aloof and watch successive governments jeopardize our future and the future of this nation merely on some political rivalry. If young people are involved in criminal and other anti social activities, we cannot blame it solely on them but the failure of the state to make conscious efforts to harness the potentials of the youth and to create opportunities for them to channel their energies to productive use.

The CPP youth have participated at various stages in the implementation of the National Youth Policy. The government assured us of an action plan immediately parliament adopted or ratified the National Youth Policy. Till date the government has reneged on its promise to deliver the action plan for full implementation of the National Youth Policy.

If the government does not address this problem, they should be foreworn of an imminent youth uprising. The growing foot soldiers agitations within the NDC and the formation of the Unemployment Graduates Association of Ghana (UGAG) is enough justification of our position.

We want the government to know that declaring a yearlong celebration to mark the Africa Day is not enough to meet the aspiration of the youth of Ghana. Let us do the right things first and the razzmatazz will follow. Give us a concrete action plan for the youth of Ghana so we can measure the performance of governments.

Long Live The African Youth
Long Live Ghana's youth
MURTALA MOHAMMED
NATIONAL YOUTH ORGANISER (CPP)
0243807244

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