The National Youth Wing of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticised President John Dramani Mahama’s administration over what it describes as a failure to deliver on promises made to the youth, particularly in the area of job creation, one year after assuming office.
In a statement dated January 12, 2026, and signed by its National Youth Organiser, Salam Mustapha, the youth wing said President John Dramani Mahama’s first year in office has amounted to a “betrayal of the Ghanaian youth.”
The group recalled that President Mahama assumed office on January 7, 2025, after what it described as a landslide electoral victory that reflected widespread public confidence, especially among young people.
According to the statement, the youth supported the National Democratic Congress (NDC) largely on the basis of promises to tackle unemployment through initiatives such as a proposed 24-hour economy and job creation policies.
However, the NPP youth wing alleged that one year into the administration, those promises have not materialised, describing the situation as deception against young people who voted in good faith.
“The people of Ghana, especially the youth, gave their absolute trust to the NDC and the President, believing that the promise to deal with unemployment was sincere. The issue of jobs is the most important item on the minds of young people in Ghana.
“The NDC promised a 24-hour economy as a panacea for this problem and pledged to create jobs for all through its attendant formula: one job, three shifts, and three people (1-3-3).
“However, one year down the line, this appears to be a scam perpetrated on the youth. They have been scammed out of their votes, safe to call it fraud and deception of gargantuan proportions,’ he said.
The statement cited youth unemployment as a major national concern and warned that failure to address it could lead to social and political instability.
It referenced a recent incident at the El-Wak Stadium, where six young women reportedly died during a stampede while seeking to enlist in the Ghana Armed Forces, describing the incident as a reflection of the level of desperation among the youth.
While acknowledging what it described as some gains in macroeconomic indicators, including exchange rate stability and single-digit inflation, the youth wing said these achievements have not translated into improved living conditions for young people.
The statement further alleged that trained nurses and teachers remain unemployed due to a lack of financial clearance, while accusing the government of prioritising the purchase of a presidential jet over the recruitment of qualified young professionals.
The group also criticised the government’s education and youth policies, claiming that the No-Fees-Stress policy for tertiary institutions has been unsuccessful and that the 2026 Budget does not contain significant interventions to benefit young people.
It further alleged that more than 13,000 young people had lost their jobs through direct actions taken by the government since it assumed office.
Additionally, the youth wing accused the Mahama administration of political persecution and actions it claims threaten democratic governance and the independence of the judiciary.
The NPP National Youth Wing called on President Mahama to honour his campaign promises to the youth, stressing that “your word must be your bond.”
