The New Patriotic Party (NPP) refuses to take its foot off the gas in its pursuit of retaining power in Ghana’s upcoming elections. Rallying behind the slogan “Breaking the 8” and “it is possible”. The NPP party is going all out for this year’s election to maintain their seat. I bet it has never been a walk in the park for them to develop policies in building Ghana and its economy. But the question is, are their policies the much awaited messiah? or, are they going to execute their policies if voted into power?
In this writeup, we are going to find out some key NPP policies on job creation, education, and healthcare to evaluate whether they have the potential to secure continuity and meet Ghana’s pressing needs.
One of the reasons the NPP won the election last four years was the Free SHS policy and they made it a key point of policy to capture the minds of Ghanaians. This year 2024, the NPP’s priority is to stimulate businesses and create jobs with a strong focus on the private sector.
According to their 2024 manifesto, their commitment to Ghanaians is to invest in the growth of Ghanaian businesses, create millions of secure jobs for the youth, ensure individual and collective prosperity, safe communities, and offer a problem-solving leadership of integrity.
First and foremost, let’s take a look at some of their policy under job creation, the NPP pledge to train 1,000,000 youth in digital skills, create jobs for artisans (manson, carpenters, welders etc.), create jobs through private sector construction and insfrastructure development, industrialization and agricbusiness, employ more security personnels and also create jobs through the Tax Amnesty Program.
These policies hold promise for tackling youth unemployment and supporting industries. All these jobs policies will be beneficial to Ghanaians if executed, however, the question is whether these policies will go beyond the campaign trail or fade into unfulfilled promises.
Additionally, the NPP intend to expand educational opportunites for all, and this is what they stated under their manifesto that, they will increase the stock of student accomodation in the public universities and other tertiary instuition, introduce a free tertiary education scholarship for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to remove the financial barriers to pursing eductional goals, protect and enhance the free Senior High School (SHS) and Technical,Vocational Education and Traning (TVET) programs.
Education is an important part of Ghana’s economy, and delving more into voting, tertiary students, and some SHS students take part in the voting exercise.
The rundown of this is, education plays a vital role in Ghana’s development, and these commitments if fulfilled, could expand access and affordability. But will these promises turn into action, or are they designed simply to win votes?
According to NPP under their health policy seeks to provide healthcare for all Ghanaians.The manifesto states that, they will complete all agenda 111 hospitals, this ensures every district gets a district hospital. Recruit more doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals with improved conditions of service and bring healthcare services to the doorsteps of Ghanaians.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has already commissioned some Agenda 111 hospitals, such as the Sekyere Afram Plains District Hospital, The district hospital at Manso Nkwanta, in the Amansie West District. These steps show progress, but the challenge remains whether Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia prioritize healthcare reforms if NPP retains power.
The NPP’s message of continuity and reform rests on delivering on these policies. While their track record provides a foundation of credibility, Ghanaians are wary of unfulfilled promises. As the election draws closer, the party must prove that Breaking the 8 is not just a slogan but a commitment to the nation’s progress. Will voters trust the NPP to sustain growth and address challenges, or will they seek a fresh start under a new administration? The decision lies in the hands of Ghanaians on December 7th 2024.
By: Blessing Arthur
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