The Director of the Tema Port, Tebon Zumah has revealed that the 24-hour policy of one job three shifts formula is effectively taking place at the port.
He said this is happening through the port ecosystem and is already demonstrating the power of productivity- driven policy and expanding employment across vital operational areas such as cargo handling, marine services, engineering support, security operations, warehousing, transport coordination, freight systems, digital port management, customs support services, logistics management and supply chain operations.
Mr. Tebon Zumah revealed this during the Upper East Regional Youth and Tertiary Education Institutions Network of the National Democratic Congress (TEIN) conference at the Bolgatanga Nursing Training College on May 23.
The conference brought together all TEIN members in the eleven tertiary institutions in the region for youth- driven opportunities and government policies on youth development.
The main issue of discussions at the conference were youth unemployment and youth empowerment which drives the modern economy and transformational growth in all sectors of the economy.
In reassuring the TEIN members and youth in the Upper East Region of employment opportunities, the full implementation of the 24- hour policy was re-echored to give hope to the youth in respect of high possibilities of the realities of the policy and how the policy will increase productivity through employment.
Mr Tebon Zumah said stronger round-the-clock operational systems, cargo turnaround time has improved, vessel handling efficiency has strengthened, logistics coordination has become faster, and the movement of goods has become more effective and productive under the 24-hour operational framework.
“What we are witnessing at the port is a practical example of how policy can directly translate into job creation. Stronger operations have led to stronger capacity, and stronger capacity has required stronger staff strength. Direct and indirect employment opportunities continue to grow, creating hope for young engineers, technicians, logistics professionals, maritime experts, transport operators and skilled workers”, he said.
“That is why the 24-hour economy must not be viewed merely as an economic policy. It must be seen as a practical national intervention for youth empowerment, industrial transformation, employment generation, productivity growth and economic rebuilding”, he added.
Other government appointees including the Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, Deputy CEO of EPA, and MMDAs outlined government policies that are youth centered and the intervention and initiatives that have already been rolled out to ensure more unemployed youth get decent jobs.
TEIN members and the youth in general, have been urged to be politically disciplined and refrain from politics that will dent their image resulting in missing out future career opportunities.
The TEIN first began as an experimental student group at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in 1992. It was officially adopted as an umbrella name for all NDC tertiary networks in 1994 by Hon. E.T. Mensah, who was the National Youth Organizer at the time.
By Tanko Mohammed Rabiu
