400,000 youths to benefit from YEA from 2017 – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama says the Youth Employment Agency has been revamped and ready to equip about 400,000 youths in the country with skills.

During his tour in the Fanteakwa North constituency in the Eastern region, the president assured residents this will take effect from 2017 under his second term in office.

He was addressing a rally at Ahomahomasu in the Eastern Region. “I have told the Youth Employment Agency to employ four hundred thousand youths both males and females from 2017 to 2021”, he said.

President Mahama explained that this is part of the National Democratic Congress manifesto promises for the 2016 elections. Under this, he said, the youth would be employed from every district for two year, within which each person would receive a monthly allowance of GHC300.

“We will employ from every district and it will be for two years. “During this time, each person will receive three hundred Ghana Cedis from which fifty Ghana Cedis would be taken out and put aside in an account to yield more interest for the youth who joins the youth employment programme” the president stated.

On completion of the programme, the president said beneficiaries would be provided with equipment to work with.

“Whatever you like, that is what you will learn and when you are done, whatever machine you’ll need; if say you are a carpenter, we will give you the plane, saw and all the things you would need to work,” he said.