Government to revive dormant companies to support NABCO

Government has announced it will rejuvenate dormant companies in the across the country in a move to increase job opportunities for graduates under the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) programme.

Deputy Trade and Industry Minister, Robert Ahomka-Lindsay who announced this said they will also support the expansion of existing industries to create more employment opportunities for the people.

“The NABCO programme is not just looking at start-ups but also existing companies be supported to expand whilst others who have shut its operations will be rejuvenated” he said while addressing a meeting of stakeholders in Kumasi.

He disclosed that the Enterprise Ghana Module of the Nation Builders Corps had received 13,000 applicants so far.

Government, he said, was targeting 500 private enterprises to deploy the NABCO applicants.

Mr Ahomka-Lindsay explained a memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed between government and private companies to ensure beneficiaries get the needed skill training.

“Under the Enterprise Ghana module, we will sign MOU with each of the companies with the view point of taking the graduates that they need to help them man their business. We have agreed with them over the 3-year period each graduate will have 12 weeks routine training; 6 weeks of the training will be done by the government and the other companies will take responsibility of the other 6 weeks,” he explained.

Under the Module, government will absorb allowances to be paid to beneficiaries for one and half years whilst the private company pays the last one-and-half-year allowance.

Some business owners partnering with government for the programme expressed satisfaction.

“The programme is crucial to the skills development of graduates. Most of them know just the theoretical aspect of the job so we have to always give them on-the-job training”, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo President of AGI, Afua Gyamfuaa Owusu Akyaw noted.

“We need a lot of skilled people to effectively run companies and the NABCO initiative may provide us with what we need since most graduates lack practical knowledge. After listening to the details of the programme, I am so ready to partner the government for the programme”, CEO of Boris B Group of Companies, Boris Baidoo stated.

Applicants of the Enterprise Ghana module are expected to start working with the companies by August 6 this year after interview and screening in June.