Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Takoradi, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, has called for innovative approaches to job creation, particularly through technology, to address the growing number of people seeking employment.
He observed that government employment alone could not absorb the increasing number of job seekers, making it necessary to strengthen private-sector participation and create alternative pathways to sustainable livelihoods.
He cited Japan and Singapore as examples of countries that had advanced through technological development, stressing the importance of innovation in national development.
The former Western Regional Minister, who was speaking at the Third Ordinary Sitting of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), urged Ghanaians to invest in innovation and create an environment in which young people could contribute meaningfully to the economy.
He stressed the need for youth-focused employment programmes that would equip young people with relevant skills and connect them to opportunities in emerging technology-driven industries.
Mr. Darko-Mensah also highlighted the launch of the Young People’s Smart Project, an initiative expected to gather ideas from the youth and explore ways to translate them into employment opportunities and personal development within his area.
He called for support for initiatives that would enable young people to develop their talents, apply their knowledge and participate actively in the country’s development.
On sanitation, he called on the Assembly to provide adequate funding and equipment to enable its members to organise weekly sanitation exercises in their respective electoral areas.
He said such support would strengthen community participation in sanitation management and sustain efforts to maintain clean environments across the metropolis.
According to him, Assembly Members were closely connected to their communities and understood the environmental challenges confronting residents, but their ability to respond effectively could be limited by inadequate resources.
He stressed that sanitation management should be a continuous exercise rather than an occasional activity, requiring sustained investment, community participation and effective monitoring.
Mr. Darko-Mensah also advocated the direct election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), arguing that it would give citizens a direct voice in choosing their local government leaders.
He said the move could strengthen public participation in local governance and increase accountability for development outcomes.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi