After 2 years of steady hard work, Youngstars Ghana is gradually building a repuation as a strategic youth organisation to work with in Ghana. In 2009 the Office of the Ghana Ministry of Youth officially met with Youngstars and facilitated an introductory meeting with the National Ghana Youth Council. After much deliberations the National Ghana Youth Council decided to partner with Youngstars to implement projects for the benefit of the youths, starting with a Ghana Youth Online forum which is currently running on this site.
Ghana Youth Online Forum on President Mills 1 year in Office
The 3 weeks Youth on-line forum of Youngstars-Ghana on the performance of President Mills’s administration during his first year in office which started on the 8th – 27th March, 2010 is still bubbling hot in the mind of many youths as a result of full flair engagement from young democrats in Ghana and parts of other West African countries; making observations on defective areas of the president’s administration and proffering suggestions for the way forward. The forum is initiated to provide a platform for young people to make strategic inputs towards national building. Prior to the forum, 6 key areas were identified. Each week, 2 areas were loaded on the Youngstars website for youths to begin to comment on. Primarily, the online forum raises concerns and also suggestions / recommendations from youth on areas the government needs to do more in 2010 and subsequently.
It was projected that a One Day interactive Forum between government and young people shall climax the forum to interface on the key points raised on the forum. The Online forum is stiil currently on-going on this social network.
Progress Assessment:
Week 1:
Topic 1: Fighting Poverty & Unemployment
Responses: Seven (7)
Excerpts of some key comments:
Poverty and unemployment is a big problems in Africa especially West Africa countries including Ghana. I think for the government of President Mill to improve on fighting against poverty and unemployment especially among the young people in Ghana, he must be ready to introduce and implement to the latter a policy that will encourage establishment of industries and other related organization across every region in Ghana. With this, many young people will be able to secure employment as well as contributing to the growth of Ghana economy.
Bola- Nigeria
The government should not sit back and leave the private sector alone try to solve the country’s unemployment problems. Rich countries like USA gave monies to its banks to save them from collapsing during the global economy recession, hence this government should initiate policy to ensure conducive environment for the private sector to operate
kofiahovi2 – Ghana.
Week 1:
Topic 2: Housing
Responses: Seven (7)
Excerpts of some key comments:
Hello all. From the link here the government has just announced plans to start 200,000 Housing units with funds from Korea. It looks like the main beneficiaries would be security services (I wonder why?). The Kufuor government started building a similar project across the country. What has happened to those houses? We know they were the subject of some inquiry. The questions are that are these completed? Who have they been allocated to? What is the system of allocation? Are they really affordable for the average worker? Are these any financing schemes in place? How much of an impact does these projects make on the housing deficit? What can we do about unscrupulous landlords and high rent advances?
Yebefu- Ghana
I think the NDC government idea of providing affordable housing for the people of Ghana is very laudable.I hope the Mills lead government will walk his talk,so that this great idea does not remain in our library shelves as it has always been the case. Housing is a basic human right that every citizen should have.And a decent and affordable housing for Ghana populace is in the right direction.
keakotman
Week 2:
Topic 1: Crusade against corruption
Responses: Three (3)
Excerpts of some key comments:
It is fuuny how these politicians think they can get away with what they say and have written. Corruption is endemic in every society in the world. But when the leader of a country publicly declares that they are going to fight it and sits back, then there is a problem. Many instances can be cited for the NDC administration in their short time in office…..Kyikyinga Muntaka, Mabey and Johnson, Kwame Nkrumah Centenary Celebration, Jobs for the people etc….These are very worrying. The president seems to be unpreturbed about what is going on around him. He might not be corrupt (his ascertion that he has refused several brown envelopes) but those around him are making a mess of things. NDC, NPP, no difference when it comes to corruption.
grasagorganizingsecretary
Yes i believe that the asset declaration if properly done and investigated before and after the persons service can go a long way in checking corruption within the government.
Kingsley- Nigeria
Week 2:
Topic 2: Law and Justice
Responses: Three (3)
Excerpts of some key comments
There is an obvious disparity between the rich and the poor in Ghana in terms of justice and its delivery. Case study; Muntaka, Nana Darkwa, Tagor….so many come to mind. Muntaka is a free man and is still an MP, Tagor is free and his case has been discontinued but Nana Darkwa is in court for apparently claiming that the former president set his house on fire to get the current president to give him a new one….How unfair
Grasagorganizingsecretary-Ghana
Have we ever thought of the following idea;
POLITICAL CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT BUREAU.
It’s is very important to start thinking on this
direction if we really want to fight CORRUPTION
from the root. This agency should be created to assess
leadership candidates or aspirants and others.
DigiHUB- Nigeria
labbaika
Education is a longlasting enterprise which serves as a foundation and pillar for National development.There are numerous problems associated with the delivery of education with regards to quality,access and cost in Ghana.The NDC government for that matter designed a robust and comprehensive educational reform policies in order to make the educational system effective and efficient in the delivery of quality education to meet the demand of the job market.
Again,i think in my perspective,since our educational system is not that bad as compared to the other African countries in consideration to our scare resources in the midst of countless challenges,i believe we can apply the economic theory of scale of preference,by tackling the most important and pressing demand first.
Since the basic school of education is the foundation for higher education.The shift system policy must be abrogated and am happy that the NDC government has promised to make it a thing of the past which they have started working on.
Secondly,polytechnics can be expanded into Universities to offer quality educational and teaching training prgrammes.
The perennial and acute shaortage of teachers can be safe guarded by training students with good passes but who have difficiency in one of their subjects to pursue teaching programme and posted to the rural areas,instead of sitting down idle.
ICT,Creative arts and Citizenship education can be taught in schools since it will facilitate rapid development.
It must be noted clearly that,the youth policy of the NDC government is so innovative and comprehensive pertaining to youth training and employment.Investment in vocational technical and apprentices,Job placement centres and revamping of school sports nationally.
The issue is that, since the majority of the youth are unskilled ,then of course we seriously need a technological revolution .We have skilled and creative young individuals who needs the assistance of the government to develop their potential.
In my opinion,i will suggest that the Government must embark on a massive technological revolution in order to facilitate the process of development as well as to create an enabling environment to unleash potential creativity,and to create job opooprunities for the youth.Ghana can be made to become the power house of technology in West Africa.
Creative Industry contribute immensely to the GDP of Great Britain,USA and other world economies.If we take the creative industry very serious and invest in the venture,it can create job for our mass unemployed youth in the country.
Another important area of development which the Government can invest to create job opportunity for the people in Ghana is through Sports. There are lots of sports and sporting activities which has the potential of creating job opportunities for the youth.
We can not draw down the curtain without mentioning youth in Agriculture, which is one of the innovative policy initiatives of the NDC Government. Currently operating by the Government, in order to provide job opportunities for the youth through Agriculture and for food insecurity purposes.
So far the NDC had made a remarkable inroads by pursuing some of the promises made.However,the process is slow,but i believe ,we have to excuse the ruling Government due to the challenges they are facing as a result of the Global financial meltdown as well as the Balance of Payment deficit it inherited from it’s predecessors.
labbaika
The NDC Government has made palatable promises to the people of Ghana.The Government manifesto is well coloured and rich in spices.The country has countless pressing needs to accelerate the pace of socio-economic development in the country.
However,the country has been entangled in the web of financial difficulties. It is therefore impossible to fufil all these promises made by the party concurretly.The health reforms which was categorised to be effected is highly reccomendable.However,the countries financial circumstances will not make it possible.
Most of these reforms is in the pipeline,but the intensity and seriousness attached to it is what must be taking care of.
In my opinion,the Government must apply the economic strategic theory of scale of preference in order to be able to execute a well planned agenda within the scare resources that we have.For this reason,the most pressing needs must be pursued first.
National Health Insurance Scheme cannot be made free of charged after payment of one touch premium.Yet i will suggest that the one time premium can be restricted to the aged,and children.Active ages between 18-65 must pay periodically in order to be able to recapitalise the scheme for effective,efficient and sustainability of the system.
Politechnics can be expanded to offer training programmes in the medical and health related courses instead of building new ones at extra cost.
In the event were there are acute shortage of teachers,Para-medics can be trained to save the situation.
Dispensary technicians can also be trained to augment the laging difference between patient and the corresponding attending pharmacist in a particular locallity.
Research into herbal medicine will also help to address some of the medicall bottlenecks and challenges as well as to create job opportunities for the people of Ghana.
From the fore-going,the fact must be established clearly that the outlined reform packages promised to be delivered by the NDC Government will help balance the inequalities in the health outcomes of the people as well as to address the health challenges facing the country.
So far,the Government has not done much with regards to the fufilment of of the Manifesto promises.Yet I believe it is because of the retrogression of the economy as a result of the Global financial meltdown coupled with the corruption and mismanagement by the previous Government.However,I am very optimistic,and hoping against hope that the NDC Government would be able to fufil their promises underpinned by the better Ghana agenda before the expiry of the Governments tenure.The day is still young and all of us must support the Government irrespective of our parriochial affiliations to make the Government deliver in the name and interest of mother Ghana.