Government concerned about youth unemployment

Accra, Nov. 21, GNA - The Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment is putting in place a National Youth and Job Creation programme to deal with problems related to youth unemployment and lack of support for youth entrepreneurs.

Mr Joseph Kofi Adda, Sector Minister, at the opening of a programme dubbed " National Youth Bazaar," said a national taskforce had already been set up to formulate modalities.

The National Youth Bazaar on the theme: "Youth Enterprise, the Cornerstone for Wealth Creation" which attracted the youth from Aburi and Asante Akyem in Woodwork and Kente industry, respectively, will end on the 27th of November 2005.

Other exhibitors include, dress makers, those in the art and crafts business, soaps and pomade, Youth Health Service and the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG).

Mr Adda, who is also the Member of Parliament for Navrongo, said the youth population was characterized by unemployment with its attendant problems of social vices, disillusionment and poverty hence the Government's effort to develop effective human resource. "Government is making deliberate efforts to build a dynamic informal sector as a major way of generating and sustaining increase youth employment," he said.

The Minister urged the National Youth Council (NYC), organizers of the programme to collaborate with the Ghana Trade Fair Authority to dedicate a pavilion to showcase youth products at future international fairs and exhibitions.

Mr Adda pledged the Ministry's support for the programme and told the organizers that it woul d help in organizing youth bazaars on a regional and regular basis.

Mr Joseph Mantey, Nationa l Coordinator of the Council, said it had become necessary to explore innovative ways of empowering the youth hence programmes like the exhibition to enable the Government to know and support youth entrepreneurs.

The National Youth Council would carry an evaluation to determine the success or otherwise of the programme, he said, and added that if successful the Council would organise district, regional and national events to be held on a regular basis.

Mr George Asirifie, speaking of behalf of the exhibitors, called on the Government to institute a national apprenticeship programme to create a platform to train the youth in arts and crafts. Ms Joyce Aryee, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, who chaired the function, encouraged the youth to be innovative. She told them: "The future is for you and what you make of it is what will assure you of a better future." 21 Nov. 05