Former Upper East Regional Women’s Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Charity Rahinatu Asoemah, has criticized what she describes as the excessive emphasis on academic qualifications and social perceptions in political appointments and youth empowerment opportunities within the NDC administration.
Speaking in an interview on A1 Radio, the Deputy Director General of Warehouse at the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) argued that many young people are being denied opportunities because they do not meet certain formal standards.
“We keep losing the youth because we over-focus on qualifications,” she said. “The NDC has this mindset of ‘you don’t have this, you don’t have that.’ No certificate, no good English, too short, too tall, we use all that to disqualify people.”
According to her, such practices discourage young people who seek opportunities to develop themselves and contribute meaningfully to society.
She questioned the logic behind rejecting individuals at the entry point instead of nurturing their potential.
“People come to us looking for an opportunity to empower themselves, and we turn them away because they don’t meet some paper requirement. How do you expect them to grow if you shut the door at the gate?” she asked.
Ms. Asoemah further compared the NDC’s approach to that of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), suggesting that the NPP appears more willing to engage and groom young people regardless of their academic background.
“The NPP doesn’t do that as much. They’ll take the person in and work with what they have. That’s why we’re losing out,” she stated.
She called on government appointees to adopt a more inclusive approach by creating opportunities for young people, mentoring them, and allowing them to grow into leadership roles rather than excluding them based on qualifications alone.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Moses Apiah | Bolgatanga
