Henry Osei Akoto, a prominent member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has criticized the party’s National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, over comments he made regarding employment opportunities for Ghanaian youth.
Asiedu Nketiah, during a recent engagement with grassroots party members, spoke about challenges in recruiting personnel into some of the country’s security services. He highlighted the overwhelming number of applicants, noting that approximately 500,000 people are seeking positions in the security sector, while the government can only recruit 5,000 due to financial and logistical constraints.
In a remark that drew widespread attention, the NDC chairman quipped:
“About 500,000 people want to join the police. If we employ all of them, where would they find thieves to arrest, since everyone would be in the police service?”
He added that the government’s limited capacity necessitated difficult decisions, emphasizing that the pressure stems from years of denied opportunities for young Ghanaians.
However, Osei Akoto, a former aspirant for the NDC National Organiser position, expressed deep disappointment in the chairman’s approach. In an interview with GhanaWeb, he argued that such remarks were insensitive to the very people who had tirelessly campaigned for the party ahead of the 2024 general elections.
“After watching that video of Chairman Asiedu Nketiah speaking to the people gathered there, I must say I was very disappointed,” Osei Akoto said. “These are the same people who worked hard, struggled, and even spent their own money for the party. Today, they are simply asking for some employment opportunities. Speaking to them in that manner is unacceptable.”
Osei Akoto also criticized the lack of decorum in handling issues affecting the youth and party supporters. He suggested that if such communication continues, Asiedu Nketiah should reconsider any future presidential ambitions.
“If today they are asking to be given something small, it’s understandable. Some have applied for positions in the Police Service or Immigration, but they are not getting responses. There is a proper way to communicate with them, but the approach he took was very poor,” he said.
Highlighting the magnitude of unemployment pressure, Osei Akoto explained that party officials regularly receive dozens of calls from supporters seeking employment guidance.
“Every day, some of us receive no fewer than 50 or 60 calls from people asking about jobs. Speaking to the grassroots the way he did is very distressing and discouraging,” he noted.
He urged Asiedu Nketiah to issue an apology to the party supporters, stating that it is necessary to rebuild trust and move forward constructively.
“I believe he needs to come out and apologize to the people. If this is how he plans to deal with the grassroots, it is not good. Statements like this undermine our relationship with the very people who will ultimately vote for him,” he concluded.
