By Emmanuel Gamson
Takoradi, Jan. 6, GNA – The incoming National Democratic Congress (NDC) government has been urged to fully harness the vast natural resources in the Western Region to create employment avenues for the teeming youth in the region.
Dr Patrick Ekye Kwesie, Leader of the Western Nzema Youth League, who made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said it was imperative for the next government to invest in a resource-rich area like the Western Region to help transform the local economy, while contributing to national development.
He said: “the Western Region is rich in hydrocarbon resources, which have the potential to transform the local economy and uplift the lives of its residents.
“However, for this transformation to be meaningful, it is imperative that President-elect John Dramani Mahama fulfils his promise to invest in and empower the youth of this region.”
Dr Kwesie stated that the youth were the backbone of country’s development aspirations, hence, the government must prioritise their wellbeing through investments in employable skills.
“By providing them with the necessary tools, training, and opportunities, the government can ensure that these young individuals are not only beneficiaries of the region’s mineral wealth, but also active participants in its management and growth,” he added.
The training, he noted, included access to education, vocational training, and entrepreneurship programs tailored to the unique needs of the region’s local economy.
Dr Kwesie said: “we are passionately urging the incoming government to invest in our youth because we believe that resourcing them will help mitigate the challenges of unemployment and underemployment, which have plagued the region for years.
“By doing so, we can foster a generation of skilled workers and innovators who will drive sustainable development in the Western Region.”
GNA