Kufuor underscores need to address unemployment challenges
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has underscored the need for political leaders around the world to deepen democracy by focusing on security and addressing unemployment challenges.
Advertisement
He said unemployment, especially among resourceful and qualified graduates from universities, threatened the very foundation of democracy.
According to him, resourceful youths could develop some level of intolerance if they did not get jobs to do, adding, “They may not be satisfied with democratic systems and there might be chaos.”
IDU meeting
Mr Kufuor made these remarks when the leadership of the International Democratic Union (IDU) paid a courtesy call on him at his office in Accra.
The visit follows the IDU’s executive meeting held in Accra from June 19 to 21, 2017.
The IDU, of which the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is a member, is a working association of over 80 Conservative, Democrat and like-minded political parties of the centre and centre-right.
The IDU provides a forum on which political parties holding similar beliefs can come together and exchange views on matters of policy and organisational interest.
Mr Kufuor, while he was President of Republic of Ghana, spearheaded the move by the NPP to join the IDU. Coupled with his role in the union therefore, the leadership of the IDU deemed it fit to pay a courtesy call on him before the commencement of a meeting by the leadership in Accra.
Insecurity
President Kufuor, addressing the leadership of the IDU at his office, said in as much as people wanted to feel free under democratic governance, they needed jobs to secure themselves.
He explained that the era of technologies and the Internet provided graduates opportunities to activate political uprisings against democratic leaders and governments.
“When you’ve got such trained minds and healthy bodies not having hope around, then when you are not careful regular systems get undermined,” he warned.
He called for strong collaboration with the private sector to create job opportunities, as well as create wealth to inspire hope in the youth, saying, “Democracy should give hope.”
Kufuor’s assistance helped
The 2016 Campaign Chairman of the NPP, Mr Peter Mac Manu, who led the delegation to the former President’s office, said security had become a serious concern around the world, hence the need to pay particular attention to it.
He said the visit to the office of the former President was to show appreciation for his contribution to pushing the party to join the association.
He noted that the NPP cherished Mr Kufuor’s leadership and assistance to the NPP which helped the party to win power in the 2016 general election.
The Deputy Chairman of the IDU, Mr Tony Clement, commended former President Kufuor for his leadership, saying: “We take inspiration from your struggle and we will continue to learn from your example.”
