200 new vehicles for ‘Youth in Driving’

The Ghana Youth Employment Entrepreneur Development Agency (GYEEDA) has procured 200 brand new taxis worth $3 million to be distributed to the youth who are interested in the transport business.

The move is in fulfillment of government’s promise to reduce poverty and tackle youth unemployment by creating jobs across all sectors of the economy.

It is being implemented by Time Link Limited, a private transport training company based in Accra.

The brand new taxi cabs estimated between GH¢27,000 and GH¢32,000 will be distributed under the ‘Youth in Driving’ module as one of GYEEDA’s interventions to promote self-employment.

The module operates a “work and pay” system where beneficiaries are given brand new taxi cabs free to work and pay for within a period of two and half years.

The beneficiaries under the ‘Youth in Driving’ module are trained and equipped with driving skills to earn regular income to support their families.

A statement issued in Accra and signed by Ruben Adjei, the National Cor-ordinator of ‘Youth in Driving,’ said the module forms part of government’s efforts to give skills to the teeming unemployed youth to contribute significantly to the economic development of the country.

Mr. Adjei said apart from generating employment, ‘Youth in Driving’ module was also to enhance urban road transport through the provision of safe and affordable transport services to Ghanaians.

He said as part of the requirements for the module, selected beneficiaries undergo intensive practical and theoretical training after which they are given the taxi cabs to work with.

According to Mr. Adjei, the training focuses on driver education, business skills training and grooming to help improve beneficiaries’ knowledge on the road and in the business.

“We are training the beneficiaries not only to drive but also own their businesses and be able to manage their finances well to improve their livelihoods.

Additionally, he said the module will help address the numerous challenges faced by taxi drivers as well as provide safe and affordable transport services to Ghanaians.

“Private car owners are often fond of giving second-hand cars to taxi drivers to work and pay for. However, by the time they finish paying, the cars are left in very bad state resulting in frequent breakdowns,” Mr. Adjei said.

He also identified poor income, verbal abuse and misunderstanding due to poor daily sales and car maintenance as some challenges that taxi drivers face.

He said government recognizes the difficulties drivers face in raising about GHC20,000 to purchase cars.

Mr. Adjei said the “Youth in Driving” module is being run on a pilot basis in the Greater Accra region, which will be scaled up to cover more regions by the end of the year.