The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential Flagbearer and former President, John Dramani Mahama has assured to enhance Students Loan Scheme in the next NDC Government when voted for in the 2024 general elections.
Mr. Mahama made this assurance at Wisconsin International University College of Ghana School of Communication Studies, when invited to address a special Lecture and, interact with Students and Faculty members.
The former President shared the next NDC Government’s vision on Education to the students saying, his Government would enhanced the student loan scheme to provide sufficient loans to students so that, they would be able to finance their education and pay it back when formally employed.
According to Mr. John Mahama, the students loan reforms would be administered in collaboration with the banking and financial sectors, where students would be made to open accounts in a particular bank, and the loans channeled through the accounts.
“And our commitment to education, equity stands as a fundamental pillar of our vision. Recognize that, achieving equitable access to quality education is essential for the holistic development in the province of every equity and inclusiveness”.
He assured to continue with the program of reducing schools under trees, provide furniture for children at the basic level with regards to free clothes, expand access to education, revisits the initiative of community Senior High Schools, which he mentioned have been abandoned without any justifiable by the NPP administration.
For President Mahama further pledged to set up a separate ministry for the youth called “Ministry of Youth Development” that would cut across all the ministries to input policy for employment of young people in all the ministries from education to health to agriculture, to industry etc.
In line with the 24 Hour Economy, Mr. said his government would ensure that major sectors that have the potential to operate beyond traditional working hours, extend their business hours and encouraging businesses to operate during evenings or weekends.
“We need to maximize productivity and create a diverse range of jobs that can cater for the needs and aspirations of our new initiative. My position in the private sector, which presently employs net percent of the workforce according to the GSS including business entrepreneurs and investors, by fostering partnerships and providing incentives”.
He emphasized the need to grant private sector some tax reliefs to encourage them to embrace and operationalized the 24 hour economic policy, and be able to expand their operations and create new job opportunities.
The Innovative program according to Mr. John Mahama, has been designed to create a thriving economic environment that operates round the clock, fostering a multitude of opportunities, employment opportunities for young people under the 24 hour economic program whose focused is on revitalizing existing and dormant industries, invest directly in industries that have collapsed and, to bring them back on stream likewise, invest in existing industries that are not performing well so that they can create more employment.
