Programme to assist Ghanaian Seafarers underway

Accra, Aug. 18, GNA - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with government have jointly developed a programme to support the promotion of employment in the Maritime industry.

The programme dubbed: "The National Human Resource Policy, and Implementation Action Plan for the National Employment Policy, is aimed at assisting Ghanaian seafarers to take advantage of the numerous opportunities for gainful employment in the Maritime industry worldwide, Mr Stephen Amoanor Kwao, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare said. Mr Kwao, speaking at the Meet-The-Press series to highlight the sector ministry's programmes in Accra, said from August 2007 to date, the UNDP had committed a total amount of 731,300 dollars to finance the implementation of programme activities.

He said 476,582 dollars have been released to the Ministry to support the development and implementation of the policy to enhance opportunities for youth employment and Ghana's accession to the UN Youth Employment Network.

Mr Kwao said the government policy on employment was to create and promote productive employment opportunities in all sectors of the economy, with overarching goal of enabling all persons who are available and willing to work, to secure sustainable livelihood through full productive and freely chosen employment. He said estimates from the 2006 Ghana Living Standards Survey indicated that 9.4 million adult Ghanaians between 15 and above were economically active, out of which about three per cent were estimated to be unemployed.

Mr Kwao said the National Employment Policy and its implementation action plan being collaborated by the World Bank would ensure cross- sectoral projects for all Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs). This, he said would enhance labour- based employment and linkages between institutional training and industry. He said the ministry would play a lead role in the implementation of the policy and its action plan, as well as, co-ordinate activities of all MDAs to promote the creation of productive and gainful employment in various sectors of the economy.

On Labour, the Minister said, the ministry and its tripartite partners were implementing a Labour Market Information System (LMIS) to address the problem of inadequate, inaccurate, and diffused labour statistics affecting effective planning over the years. He said LMIS focused basically on data collection, processing, analyzing and dissemination of labour market information for use by stakeholders.

The Minister said the Ghana Statistical Service was a very key partner in the programme. Mr Kwao said a significant feature of the LMIS was the provision of opportunities for job seekers, employers and potential investors to interact via the web.

He said information could be obtained on the website address www.lmisghana.org.gh.

Mr Kwao re-echoed the resolve of the ministry to deliver on the mandate with zeal and poise and called on stakeholders to give their maximum support to ensure the realisation of government's vision of building a "Better Ghana".