JOBS FOR ALL

24-Hour Economy: a deliberate policy to encourage and support businesses and public organisations to operate 24/7 in three shifts of eight hours to boost production, promote productivity and generate well-paying jobs. This is aimed at transforming Ghana into an import substitution and export led economy.

Women’s Development Bank: a special-purpose bank to support women-owned and women-led businesses with low-interest loans and other tailored financial services on very flexible terms. This is aimed at the economic empowerment of millions of Ghanaian women.

National Apprenticeship Programme: a policy to generate self-employment through the provision of free technical and vocational training for young people in various crafts. Trained apprentices will be issued with appropriate certification and supported with start-up capital and equipment to set up businesses.

“Adwumawura’’ Programme: a special business start-up policy aimed at facilitating the creation, tracking, and mentoring of a minimum of 10,000 businesses annually with a special focus on young people.

Digital Jobs Initiative: a three-billion-dollar investment in partnership with the private sector to leverage ICT for the creation of jobs through the following programmes: a. One Million Coders Programme: one million young Ghanaians will be trained in digital skills such as coding, WebApp development, software engineering, among others for jobs in the digital eco-system. b. Regional Digital Centres (modelled on the Accra Digital Centre) to facilitate the expansion of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) sectors for job creation. c. A $50 million FinTech Growth Fund will be established to promote the growth of digital entrepreneurs and support indigenous FinTech companies. d. Zonal ICT Parks will be established across the country to make Ghana the hub for innovation, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity in Africa. Existing ICT parks such as the Dawa ICT Park will be re-developed into world-class centres of excellence to create jobs.

Agriculture for Jobs (AfJ) : The next NDC government will implement innovative policies and strategic investments to make agriculture attractive through modernisation. This is aimed at food security and job creation. To achieve this, we shall roll out a Feed Ghana Programme - an aggressive programme to boost food production, guarantee food security, and supply raw materials to industries. This we will do by: a. establishing Farmer Service Centres to support farmers with modern agriculture equipment, technologies and inputs in all districts; and b. creating Farm Banks within agriculture zones to ease access to land, and irrigation facilities for agricultural purposes and encourage young people into farming.

Rapid Industrialization for Jobs (RIJ): Roll out an accelerated plan to promote value addition for domestic consumption and exports. Strategic industries will be established, and defunct ones revived. In pursuit of this, we will: • set up Agro-Industrial Zones in all regions based on their comparative advantage. • establish mini-processing plants for cassava, tomatoes, fruits, and other commodities. • initiate plans to establish cocoa processing factories in cocoa-growing regions such as Western, Western North, Eastern, Central, Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, Volta, and Oti regions. • establish cashew processing factories in the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions. • revamp the textile and cotton-allied industry. • facilitate the construction of at least twenty (20) medium-scale animal feed processing plants and revamp the collapsing poultry industry. • promote the establishment of factories for the brewing of local beers in the Upper East, Upper West and other regions. We shall also revive the following factories: • Zuarungu meat factory; • Pwalugu tomato factory; • Wulugu livestock station; • Komenda sugar factory; and • other strategic SOEs and industries

The NDC will roll-out “the Big Push” for rapid infrastructure development to continue the NDC legacy of massive infrastructure development for job creation.

Public Sector Recruitment: Undertake critical public sector recruitments based on the requirements of a comprehensive Human Resource Gap Analysis in line with international best practices and the demands of the 24-Hour Economy. Source: https://ghanatalksbusiness.com/2018/04/gold-mining-sees- increased-activity-business-reforms-ghana/

Ghana Green Jobs Initiative: We will leverage green technologies for entrepreneurship by promoting the usage of electric vehicles, clean energy for commercial and residential use, and create jobs in sectors such as solar energy, plastic recycling, electronic waste management, and sanitation. These programmes will be anchored on our 24-Hour Economy Strategy and a Business Development Policy aimed at creating a conducive environment for business growth, innovation, economic expansion and job creation.

Agro-Processing,

Manufacturing,

Pharmaceuticals,

Construction,

Financial Services,

Extractive industries,

Sanitation and Waste Management,

Hospitality Industry,

Retail Centres,

Transportation Services,

Health Services,

Security Services

review and accelerate the Ghana Labour Market Information Systems (GLMIS), to collect, analyse, and disseminate comprehensive labour market data, including unemployment rates, skill shortages, and sector-specific labour trends

ensure the GLMIS provides adequate and timely information for job seekers and expands the scope and quality of labour market indicators to help policymakers make more informed decisions about employment-generating policies

pass an Employment Act outlining the roles and responsibilities of public and private actors in creating employment as a central objective of economic development policy

ratify the ILO Transition of Employment Convention, 1982 (158) and enact laws to protect workers against exploitation and arbitrary dismissals

review and update the Factories, Offices, and Shops Act, 1970 (Act 328) for effective regulation of Ghana's occupational health and safety in the modern workplace

restructure the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to provide policy and technical support to MMDAs in incorporating job creation into their medium-term plans and budgets; and

establish a Bilateral Labour Migration Framework to develop agreements with countries seeking skilled workers and creating opportunities for Ghanaians to work abroad, gain valuable experience and return to support national development (including bilateral co-financing arrangements to develop and export the skilled workers needed in these countries).

Mindset and Work Ethic Transformation: We will implement a workplace excellence programmes in the public sector as part of a nationwide campaign aimed at transforming work ethics and attitudes towards productivity.

Digital Intelligence Skills Development: As part of the 'Digital Jobs Initiative', we will provide free basic digital literacy courses in all districts, with advanced courses available through partnerships with local tech companies.

Multilingual Competence Development: We will integrate multilingual education into the national curriculum from primary to tertiary levels, with a specific focus on strategically important languages for trade and diplomacy.

Vocational and Technical Skills for key sectors: We will engage industry leaders to identify priority skills needed in the job market and work with CTVET and other key stakeholders to ensure these are incorporated into the curricula of relevant programmes and adequately rolled out across vocational and technical institutions.

Workforce Skills Upscaling: As part of the workplace excellence programmes, we will collaborate with professional training centres like the Civil Service Training Centre and the Institute of Local Government Studies to establish a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) framework for local government workers.

Business Support Services: We will develop a Technical Assistance Programme as part of the implementation of the National Employment Trust to provide comprehensive technical and support services to SMEs. THE PEOPLE’S MANIFESTO, 2024

Integrated Agri-Business to leverage agriculture's complete value chain (production, processing, and marketing) for job creation

Pharmaceuticals to improve access to essential medicines and create jobs in research, manufacturing, and distribution

Construction and Infrastructure to create immediate jobs and lay the foundation for long-term economic growth by facilitating trade, transportation, and access to services

Manufacturing especially for light and heavy industries to create many employment opportunities

Technology for job creation, and investments to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation

Services to particularly creative arts, tourism, and inclusive micro-level financial intermediation

Education and Healthcare to improve people’s well-being and develop a skilled workforce that attracts investments and supports economic growth; and

Small-scale mining to address safety and environmental standards to create jobs and generate income for local communities.

empower vulnerable workers in the informal economy by collaborating with the TUC, CSOs, and private sector associations to form and strengthen democratic, independent, and membership-based organisations representing wage workers, own-account workers, self-employed persons, and employers in the informal economy

implement an Informal Sector Pension Inclusion Initiative to increase participation in micro pension schemes

partner with financial institutions and CSOs to provide financial literacy training and develop innovative financial products and services to support the informal sector

partner with technology institutions and CSOs to offer digital literacy programmes and supporting the informal sector workers to acquire digital tools for their businesses

introduce occupational health and safety training and support programmes to improve working conditions in the informal sector; Source: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ghanaagricchamber.com

streamline, simplify, and decentralise business registration, permits, and tax payment to facilitate informal sector operators' formalisation of their businesses and access to regulatory services

formalise craftsmanship and artisanal work through standardization and licensing/certification to improve job safety, professionalism, wages, and pension security in cooperation with the relevant industry bodies; and

pursue active labour market programmes, such as public works and technical, vocational and digital training for unemployed youth, expanding special support programmes through the Ghana Enterprise Agency, which will be developed or introduced to young entrepreneurs who can grow and create employment in the short to medium term. Training programmes will include the world-famous ‘Start and Improve Your Business’, which China used to transform its private sector, and the ILO’s Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprise (SCORE) for medium and large-scale businesses.

monitor and evaluate (using GLMIS and other tools) the employment impact of all major government policies and programmes and foreign direct investment

ensure MDAs and MMDAs prepare Local Economic Development (LED) policies that integrate job creation, job protection, and decent work considerations into their planning and reporting processes

direct the Ministry of Education to continuously improve the educational curricula to align with the job market, including modernising infrastructure, updating curricula, and encouraging partnerships between educational institutions and industry

partner with the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI) to improve labour productivity in both the public and private sectors; and

convene periodic stakeholder conferences on jobs to assess progress, gather input and feedback, share best practices, and promote collaboration and partnerships among stakeholders.

ensure a stable monetary and macroeconomic environment for businesses to thrive

ease the tax burden on businesses by scrapping the COVID levy, E-levy, emissions levy among others

rationalize import duties, fees and charges to reduce the cost of doing business

provide tax incentives, financing support, security services, cheaper and reliable power (through Time-of-Use tariffs) for businesses under the 24-Hour Economy

provide tax breaks and low-cost financing for strategic start-ups and Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMES)

reduce bureaucracies and corruption, promote transparency, simplify administrative and regulatory processes, and respect the rule of law to create friendly investment climate

provide agro-production support services for MSMES by linking them to our Agro-Industrial Zones,

enhance the role of EXIM Bank in financing non-traditional exports and international trade generally.

leverage the spending power of government and prioritise the procurement of made in Ghana goods and services through a deliberate policy

embark on public education campaign to re-orientate citizens to patronize made-in-Ghana products

promote market access for agro commodities through the warehouse receipt system and the Ghana Commodity Exchange

promote quality assurance standards, effective branding, and marketing of Made-in-Ghana products to enhance their competitiveness in local and international markets

promote the expansion of businesses owned by Ghanaian entrepreneurs into neighbouring regions through training, strategic partnerships and networking.

diversify Ghanaian exports by promoting strategic products through value addition

encourage educational institutions to incorporate artificial intelligence and emerging technologies into their curriculum to prepare our human capital for the future of work.

promote capacity-building in entrepreneurship to enhance the management and profitability of businesses in Ghana

revitalize Business Development Centres in all districts in Ghana to support local business development and growth

strengthen partnerships between relevant TVET/tertiary institutions, and industries to provide entrepreneurial training

promote eco-tourism, boutique hotels, tour guide services, and cultural experiences to tap into Ghana's rich tourism potential

invest in waste-to-energy, solar, wind and other clean energy solutions

set up plastic recycling plants to create pellets for other products and exports

establish modern healthcare facilities, telemedicine services, and pharmaceutical production

promote technology-based businesses, such as app development, e-commerce platforms, Fintech and other digital services

establish strategic organic waste-processing plants for energy and fertilizer production in partnership with the private sector

set up manufacturing units for consumer goods, textiles, and building materials

facilitate the manufacturing of simple and power tools

expand the cocoa and shea butter cosmetic industry

facilitate the expansion of cattle rearing and the dairy value-chain in Ghana

enhance transportation and logistics services within the country and sub-region

facilitate the establishment of a National Airline

develop the Ho Airport into an aviation training hub

promote Ghana as a health and medical tourism hub by upgrading health infrastructure and enhancing health delivery

establish Ghana as an assisted birth technology hub for Africa

set up amusement and theme parks to drive recreational tourism and services; and

expand the fashion industry by encouraging greater use of local textiles and apparel as official work attire.

implement affirmative action policies in the disbursement of all government grants, procurement, and support services towards inclusive business growth

establish the Women’s Development Bank to support women-owned and women-led businesses with low-interest capital and other tailored financial services on flexible terms

provide tailored training and enterprise development support services for young women; and

ensure equitable representation of all sexes on private and public sector boards and corporate leadership.

leverage green technologies for entrepreneurship by promoting the usage of electric vehicles and clean energy for commercial and residential use

create jobs in sectors such as plastic recycling, electronic waste management, and sanitation.

enhance e-visa and visa-on-arrival processes to facilitate investor and tourist entry

strengthen business units/trade attaches in missions abroad to support Ghanaian businesses and encourage them to invest in Ghana

implement an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) to fast-track entry at border points; and

establish a visa-free regime for African countries, diasporans and other selected countries.

review the regulatory framework for betting and related businesses to ensure responsible gaming practices, protect vulnerable individuals, and promote fair and transparent operations

strengthen the enforcement of laws governing the lottery industry to ensure compliance and fairness in lottery processes

review the licencing regime and commission structure for Lotto Marketing Companies

ensure the prompt payment of lotto winnings and resolve petition tickets within 14 days to maintain trust and reliability in the system; and

expedite the issuance of lotto licenses to applicants who have fulfilled the payment requirements. THE PEOPLE’S MANIFESTO, 2024 KEY EXTRACTS - JOBS FOR ALL 2 Women’s Development Bank: a 1 24-Hour Economy: a deliberate special-purpose bank to support policy to encourage and women-owned and women-led support businesses and public businesses with low-interest loans. organizations to operate 24/7 in three shifts of eight hours. Same Job, 3 shifts, 3 People. ‘Levelling Up’ achieve equity in the job market 3 National Apprenticeship and empower youth, Programme: a policy women, and persons with aimed at generating disabilities through self-employment through equitable employment the provision of free policies. technical and vocational training for young people. “Adwumawura’’ Programme: ‘Buy Ghana Agenda’, a special business start-up deliberately use policy aimed at facilitating the government’s spending creation, tracking, and power to stimulate demand mentoring of a minimum of for made in Ghana goods. 10,000 businesses annually. 6 5 Ghana Green Jobs Initiative: Digital Jobs Initiative: One jobs through green Million Coders Programme, technologies, clean energy Regional Digital Centres, for plastic recycling, $50 million FinTech Growth electronic waste Fund and Zonal ICT Parks. management, and sanitation.