Flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama says his administration if elected will establish the National Apprenticeship Scheme to address the rate of unemployment in Ghana.

Speaking at a mammoth rally to introduce all parliamentary candidates in the Greater Accra region, Mr Mahama highlighted three thematic policies he believes will change the fortunes of the country.

Thousands of party members and sympathisers walked for about 6 kilometres on Saturday, July 20 defying the rain to gather at the Nungua town park.

He noted that adequate provision for vocational training for many who couldn’t get the opportunity to excel in school will help bridge the unemployment gap, hence the National Apprenticeship Scheme.

Mr. Mahama pledged to establish a Women’s Bank to cater to the financial needs of women in business, recognising their significant contribution to the economy.

According to him, the 24-hour economy is the game-changer that will speed the country’s growth.

Mr. Mahama also encouraged party members to protect the ballot at each polling station and assured them that his policies would benefit all Ghanaians who vote for the NDC.

Meanwhile, he announced that the party will officially launch its campaign for the 2024 election in Tamale on 27th July.

This, he noted, will mark the start of an intensive campaign in every corner of the country.

“The first is the National Apprenticeship Scheme. As I’ve said before, not all our children are induced with the same mental ability. You can have the same children sitting in the same class when the teacher teaches, one is able to catch it immediately and so you would think that he’s smart, he’s knowledgeable, he’s intelligent.

“There’s another one who’s slow to learn and so we might do an exam, the sharp one will continue to the University and all that. But it doesn’t mean that the one who doesn’t catch it quickly does not have the talent God gave him.”

”Take those two; the one you say is slow and the one who’s smart and put them in an environment where they have to use their hands and you will find out that that other one is better able and more skilful than the one who gets A in class.

“So, all our children have a talent that God gave them. So it cannot be that we give free education to one group to the university and yet when the others fall out, they are left to their faith. Not all of them can go to the TVET centres.”

“So, our strategy will be to introduce the National Apprenticeship Scheme so that for those who cannot continue into tertiary education, they will be able to go into an Apprenticeship and learn a skill with their hands so they can also find work.”