Vice President Dr
Mahamudu Bawumia Wednesday said the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC)
government cumulatively increased electricity tariffs by 166% between 2013 and
2016.
Comparatively, he said, the current government under President Akufo-Addo’s administration within two years (from 2017 to date), had averagely decreased electricity tariffs cumulatively by five per cent.
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Vice President Bawumia said this at the
launch of the Youth Employment Agency Job Centre in Accra, in response to some
criticisms from the camp of the opposition National Democratic Congress
concerning the 5.6 per cent electricity tariffs increase, which took effect
from Tuesday, October 1.
Dr Bawumia, while giving a background to the
electricity tariffs increments, said the NDC administration in 2010
cumulatively increased electricity tariffs by 89%, 10% in 2011, 78% in 2013,
38.3% in 2014 and 59.2% in 2015.
He added that between 2013 and 2016, the Mahama-led government cumulatively increased electricity tariffs by 166%, while the Akufo-Addo’s government increased electricity tariffs by 11% per cent in July this year, and 5.6% on October 1, respectively.
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“So it is still boot for chalewote. Ladies and gentlemen, we have to keep with the facts and not be misled,” Dr Bawumia pointed out.
He said if any government wants to reduce
the burden on businesses, it was prudent to keep electricity tariffs at
reasonable limit.
Dr Bawumia launched the Youth Employment
Agency’s (YEA) Job Centre and three other supporting initiatives, to facilitate
sustainable employment for both skilled and unskilled Ghanaian youth between
the ages of 15 and 35 years.
The three other initiatives are Artisan Directory,
Work Abroad Programme and Agriculture-based Flagship Project.
Vice President Bawumia explained that the Job Centre is an online platform (www.yeajobcentre.gov.gh), which would connect job seekers to potential employment providers in the public and private sectors of the economy.
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The Centre, he said, would also assist job
seekers with career counselling and training services, curriculum vitae
preparation, Agency placement and a walk-in hub that will provide other
auxiliary services to job seekers.
The event brought together Ministers of
State, Chief Executive Officers of State- Owned Enterprises, Development
Partners, the Diplomatic Community, YEA Youth Ambassadors, captains of industry
and young entrepreneurs across the country.
Explaining the Artisan Directory, Dr Bawumia said it would train and provide start-up tools and capital to artisans, including beauticians, plumbers, masons, carpenters and fashion designers, and link them up to the market, in order to sell their crafts and services.
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The Agriculture-based Flagship Project, the
Vice President said, took cognizance of the natural endowment and comparative
advantage of the various regions and districts, and government would support
the youth to venture into maize farms, fish farming, smock village, cassava and
plantain production, all geared towards ensuring sustainable jobs and building
a resilient economy.
He said 10,000 youth would be engaged in the
first year of the programme and commended the Board and Management of the YEA
for establishing a maize plantation at Wenchi in the Bono Region and a fish
farm in the Volta Region towards practicalising the vision.
The fourth programme “Work Abroad Programme,” Dr Bawumia explained, would enable the nation to export young professionals, including nurses, teachers and other expertise abroad, which would earn Ghana additional foreign exchange, as well as ensure cross exchange of ideas and technology.
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Vice President Bawumia outlined some
innovative digital technologies rolled out by government to promote conducive
business environment, including the paperless ports system, merging of the four
business application forms, digital property addressing system and the ongoing
national identification system (Ghana Card).
He noted that 1.2 million students had benefitted from the Free Senior High School Policy, while 100,000 graduates had been recruited under the Nation Builders Corps.
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He added that government had restored
nursing and teacher trainee allowances, abolished 17 nuisance taxes in 2017 and
had so far, employed 350,000 people into the public sector since assuming
office.
He urged corporate entities in the country
to support the YEA’s initiatives to succeed in order to reduce youth
unemployment to the barest minimum and stimulate economic growth.
