Source: Myjoyonline.com
Alan Kyerematen has raised concerns about the growing lack of action in Ghana, warning that the country is turning into a “No Action, Talk Only” (NATO) nation.
In an interview with JoyNews’ News Desk, the former Trade Minister criticised Ghana’s leadership for making lofty promises without following through on them.
“There’s too much talk in this country. People talk, but there’s no action. That’s why I said Ghana is gradually becoming NATO—a ‘No Action, Talk Only’ country,” Mr Kyerematen said, stressing that national development demands more than mere discussions.
“It’s a question of leadership, political will, and the capacity for execution,” he added.
Kyerematen’s statement was made in response to how he intends to address one of the major challenges facing Ghanaian youth: housing.
He acknowledged the difficulties young Ghanaians face in renting homes, particularly the practice of landlords demanding multiple years of rent upfront, even though the law limits advance rent to six months.
“The solution is simple—strict enforcement of the law,” Kyerematen said.
However, he noted that his ten-point plan for youth housing goes beyond enforcement.
“Some parts of the current law need revision because they’re not robust enough,” he added, proposing new provisions under rent control to abolish multi-year rent advances, especially for first-time renters.
Beyond legal reforms, Kyerematen’s broader plan aims to tackle the root causes of Ghana’s housing crisis.
He plans to create job opportunities for the youth and introduce an affordable home ownership scheme through mortgage financing.
“In most major economies, people don’t pay in cash to buy property—they use mortgages,” he explained, pushing for a similar model in Ghana.
His vision is to enable young people, particularly those with jobs, to own homes within their first year of work through long-term mortgage options.
Kyerematen also reaffirmed his commitment to creating jobs for Ghana’s youth, pledging to generate 3 million jobs within 18 months.
Despite the challenges, Kyerematen remains optimistic, believing that the solutions to Ghana’s issues already exist and need only to be implemented.
“We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Other countries have done it, and it’s time for Ghana to follow suit,” he concluded.
