Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader in Parliament, has criticised government for its alleged failure to deliver on key campaign promises, accusing it of diverting public attention with what he described as empty slogans.

He said promises such as “one job,” “women banking,” and an increase in the producer price of cocoa had not materialised, leaving many Ghanaians disappointed, particularly the youth seeking sustainable employment.

Mr Afenyo-Markin, who is also the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Effutu, made the remarks at the inauguration of a seven-member executive of the Young Commons Forum (YCF), University of Cape Coast (UCC) Chapter, during the “UCC Summit” on Saturday, February 21.

The summit sought to inspire young people to discover their potential, challenge the status quo, innovate, and make meaningful contributions to society.

The Minority Leader noted that instead of focusing on development and job creation, the Government had been promoting its “24-hour economy” slogan, which, in his view, was a distraction from pressing national challenges such as the rising cost of living.

He said: “The government talks about elections but hasn’t addressed the rising cost of living. They came to power promising change, but have introduced laws that charge GH¢1 per data, and today, the people are suffering.”

He urged the Government to prioritise its core mandate of improving living conditions, spurring development, and expanding job opportunities.

Addressing the newly inaugurated YCF executives, Mr Afenyo-Markin encouraged them to empower themselves and support other young people interested in civic engagement and policy-making.

“Let them know that these are the core values of our tradition. Your background does not matter; what matters is industry, dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit,” he said.

Mr John Noble, President of the YCF, UCC Chapter, called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders, including politicians, economists, and innovators, to advance youth development initiatives.

He emphasised the importance of implementing policies and strategies that translate vision into action for sustainable progress.

“It is important to put policies and plans into action to ensure that the desired outcomes are achieved for development and progress,” he reiterated.

The Student Representative Council of UCC presented a citation to Mr Afenyo-Markin in recognition of his contributions and service to national development.