Job creation and grassroots economic expansion dominated discussions when President John Dramani Mahama engaged the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, as he outlined measures aimed at tackling unemployment and stimulating local economies.
Addressing the chiefs, the President acknowledged that while macroeconomic stability is improving, the pressing challenge remains how to translate those gains into jobs especially for young people.
“Government alone cannot absorb the numbers, so we need to invest in the private sector to industrialize, and in areas like agriculture to absorb the unemployed,” he said.
Decentralisation as a Growth Tool
A key plank of the government’s strategy, according to the President, is empowering local authorities to drive development from the ground up.
He pointed to the uncapping of the District Assemblies Common Fund, which now allows Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to retain up to 80 percent of their allocations.
This, he explained, will enable districts to invest in projects such as 24-hour economy markets to boost commerce and create employment opportunities.
Balancing Growth with Stability
While the focus of the engagement leaned heavily on jobs, President Mahama also highlighted recent economic gains, including easing inflation, a stabilising currency, and improved resilience against global shocks.
“We are meeting all our debt obligations, the economy is more resilient and is withstanding external shocks,” he noted, adding that maintaining fiscal discipline remains a priority after the country’s IMF programme.
Infrastructure to Support Opportunity
The President linked job creation to ongoing infrastructure and social investments, including efforts to operationalise the University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences (UEAS) at Bunso.
He also reiterated government’s commitment to completing the stalled Eastern Regional Hospital project.
“We will pay the contractor so that we can complete the project,” he assured.
Additionally, he highlighted healthcare reforms such as free primary healthcare and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, aimed at improving access while reducing the financial burden on citizens.
Chiefs Back Development Drive
Responding to the President’s remarks, Nene Sakite II, President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, welcomed the focus on development and job creation.
“We are taking note of the work being done around us in the Region and we are greatly appreciative,” he said, expressing hope that ongoing projects would be sustained.
The engagement, attended by Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and other senior officials, underscored growing calls for economic policies that directly impact livelihoods at the community level.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
