Youth employment policy out soon

Agona Swedru, May 20, GNA - The Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Mr Joseph Kofi Adda has stated that the National Youth Employment policy would soon come out to help poverty reduction among the youth in the county.

Mr Adda announced this at a two-day strategic planning review workshop organized by the Manpower, Youth and Employment ministry at Agona Swedru.

Members of Parliament, Ministers of state and other stakeholders are attending it.

He noted that the government has found it prudent to make employment the driving force in the Ghana poverty reduction strategy phase II programme.

Mr Adda said the Ministry was working hard to modify a draft strategic plan to reflect the new mandate, which would be responsible for the youth employment creation.

He stressed that emphasis has been placed on the President's sessional address this year, on Human Resource Development, which is one of the four priorities yet to be implemented.

Mr Adda called for equipment for the national training institutions including the NVIT, IOC and ICCES, which are departments of the ministry to ensure promotion of the youth policy.

He therefore, urged his colleague ministers in the ministry to provide strategic leadership role required to move the process forward and also develop a new vision that reflects government's priorities and direction.

He announced that the Ministry is working hand-in-hand with parliament to ensure the early passage of the Disability Bill to enable "People with Disability" to contribution their quota to the national development.

Mr Adda said the National Tripartite Committee would soon be inaugurated to play its role in the areas of conditions of service of Ghanaian workers.

Dr Alex Glover-Quartey, Head of Civil Service expressed concern about the lackadaisical attitudes on the part of some civil servants at work, which he said impeded productivity.

He was not happy with the absence of representatives from the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Ghana Employers Association and People With Disability groups, who were the major partners in development with the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment.

He charged the Ministry to identify the critical competencies and skills on the job market for the youth and appealed to the tertiary and other higher institutions of learning to provide the youth with the needed training.