District to reactivate defunct youth groups

Nkoranza (B/A) Feb. 28, GNA - Nkoranza District secretariat of National Youth Council has organised a day's forum for leaders of the Federation Youth Association of Ghana in Nkoranza towards the re-organisation of all defunct youth groups in the district. Mr. Frank Osei-Boahen of Brong-Ahafo Regional Office of the Council announced that the government had put in place measures aimed at creating employment to help alleviate challenges facing unemployed youth.

He said there were opportunities for Senior Secondary School leavers unable to further their education to undertake voluntary teaching in remote communities to ensure that all school-going age children in such areas would also gain access to formal education. "An auxiliary nurses' programme has also been designed for such students to acquire skills and knowledge in health education and training to assist in the management of rural clinics in the communities", he added.

Mr. Osei-Boahen explained that some of the youth would be organised to serve on community protection units to provide security against crime.

Mr. Kofi Aduse-Poku, Sunyani district youth coordinator said some of the youth would be engaged in afforestation programmes by planting economic trees on a large farm land to earn a living. He called on the unemployed youth to register with the specific employment programmes they were interested in so they could be mobilized to undertake the exercises.

The youth co-ordinator disclosed that traditional authorities as well as landowners would be requested to release enough lands for the afforestation projects, adding compensation would be paid for such lands.

In a welcoming address, Mr. Patrick Nkansah, Nkoranza district chairman of the Youth Federation expressed gratitude to the Brong-Ahafo Regional Coordinating Council for appointing Mr. Osei Tutu as the Nkoranza district coordinator. Mr. Kofi Adu, Nkoranza district secretary of the Federation urged all youth groups in the communities to register their membership with the district office to be recognized for youth activities and programmes.

Mr. Kyere Boateng, principal executive officer at the Nkoranza district assembly, who presided, deplored the negative attitudes and practices of some youth who organised themselves to destool traditional rulers or rebelled against opinion leaders and cautioned such youth groups to desist from the practice.

Mr. Boateng advised them to against partisan politics as that could also put them into factions and affect their developmental goals. He gave the assurance that the District Assembly would support the youth groups in the execution of their duties to promote the development of the district.