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NPP had more credible jobs plan than NDC’s 1-3-3 – Salam Mustapha
Aspiring National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha, has defended the party’s jobs plan under the previous government, arguing that it was more credible than the employment promises made by the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to him, the NPP had several programmes in the pipeline that could have created jobs for young people if given more time to implement them.
Mr Mustapha made the remarks at Channel one TV on Tuesday September 1, 2026 where he highlighted the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 general election and the concerns of young people over unemployment.
He likened the situation facing the NPP before the election to the Titanic, explaining that although he warned the party about the challenges ahead, the problem was not that the leadership ignored his concerns but rather a lack of capacity to address them quickly.
He pointed to the pressure on government finances, noting that about 60 to 70 per cent of the country’s revenue goes into the payment of public sector workers.
Mr Mustapha explained that the NPP’s plans required time to create sustainable employment opportunities rather than providing jobs for all young people overnight.
He cited the Agenda 111 hospital project as one of the programmes that could have created employment, particularly for health workers.
According to him, the completion of the project would have required about 70,000 health workers.
He acknowledged, however, that young people who were unemployed and struggling could not simply wait for two or three years for jobs to be created.
Mr Mustapha criticised the NDC government’s employment initiatives, claiming that some of its campaign promises to the youth have not been fulfilled.
He cited the promise to create 100,000 jobs, arguing that the government had created fewer than 10,000 so far and had also failed to sustain some of the programmes.
He questioned the progress of the government’s “One Million Coders” initiative and the automatic employment promise for nurses.
Mr Mustapha further argued that the government’s entrepreneurship initiatives were similar to programmes introduced under the NPP.
He cited the “Adwumawura” programme, which he linked to former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s administration, as an example of efforts to support young entrepreneurs.
Despite the NPP’s defeat among young voters, Mr Mustapha expressed confidence that many young people who previously voted against the party may have changed their minds.
He pointed to discussions on social media as an indication of growing dissatisfaction among some young people with the NDC government.
Mr Mustapha maintained that the NPP could regain the confidence of the youth if it addresses their concerns and presents practical solutions to unemployment.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Medical Doctor and dietician, Dr Bernice Korkor Asare, has urged women to take greater responsibility for their lifestyle choices, particularly their eating habits and levels of physical activity, to help reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
According to her, although, some breast cancer risk factors, such as family history and certain reproductive factors, may not be within an individual’s control, lifestyle choices offer an opportunity for people to take preventive action.
She made this known during a talk on the topic: “Role of diet in breast cancer prevention” organised by Times Ladies Association of the New Times Corporation, publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, in Accra on Thursday.
The event themed “Breast Cancer Awareness- Promoting Early Detection, Healthy Eating and Prevention.” 
She noted that having a risk factor did not automatically mean a person would develop breast cancer, but could increase the likelihood of developing the disease compared with someone without that particular risk factor.
“Having close relatives who have had breast cancer, particularly a mother, sister or daughter, may increase the risk, although not everyone with a family history will develop the disease,” Dr Asare opined. Read More.
By Adizatu K. Munkaila
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A group of compassionate friends from Innovation Gospel Impact last Friday visited the management, teachers and learners of the Street Academy in Accra.
The visit was to interact to get a deeper insight into the operations of the Academy that houses hundreds of street and underprivileged children and find ways to support them.
The team was led by Rev. Dr Isaac Apenteng Yeboah, a former Director for West African Mailbox Club and Director for Prisons Support Foundation, and Rev. Dale Sutherland from Washington DC.
The call, according to the visitors was occasioned by reports about the struggles of the Academy despite the occasional support it enjoys from individuals and some corporate entities.
Briefing them, the Founder and Executive Director of the Academy, Dr Ataa Lartey, thanked them for the concern showed, indicating that “this is a major boost for both teachers and learners; knowing that their plight is known by people outside their premises.”
According Dr Lartey, the Academy had planned to undertake a number of project to enhance teaching and learning and also procure facilities for the children with keen interest in sports but had to shelve those plans for lack of finance.
He told the team that their biggest concerns were the monthly utility bills that takes a toll on their finances.
“We have a piece of land we planned to turn into an astro turf pitch to train the younger ones whose interests lies in making a career out of football, however, we have been unable to commence because there is no money now,” he said.
Dr Lartey expressed gratitude to the teachers who have dedicated their lives to training these children, rather than going for well-paying jobs and hoped that with time, their conditions of engagement would improve.
Moved by the plight of the Academy, the group donated a cash amount of Gh₵3,000 to settle its water bills.
They described as unfortunate the conditions of learners and teachers of the Academy and pledged to continuously support their operations to realize the dream to build a better future for the unfortunate children.
The group offered to support the school with its monthly utility bills, feeding and staff allowance and urged the Academy staff to remain in constant touch with them.
The Street Academy is located at the Accra Art Center and offers brilliant but needy the chance to pursue their educational dreams by enrolling them in public schools with others offered training in sports and cultural activities.
By Spectator Reporter
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