Yes fund and the Ghanaian youth.

It is often said that the youth are the future leaders of every nation but a nation that does not invest in it's youth has no future. The mere presence of muscular youth doesn't guarantee a prosperous future for a nation, it is only when the nation invests in it's youth with the requisite training, skills and support that the youth can contribute to the socioeconomic development of the nation in the forceable future. As such, the decision by President Mahama and government to set up the Youth Enterprise Support ( YES ) fund is not only important but must be embraced by all and sundry as we seek to develop Ghana.

Youth and graduate unemployment is a global crisis and Ghana is no exception. Ghana's 15 million youth constitute nearly 60 percent of the nation's population. Lack of employment opportunities and difficulties in acquiring start up capital contributes significantly to youth and graduate unemployment in Ghana. With the setting up of the 10 million Ghana cedis seed capital for the Youth Enterprise Support initiative, a few of the numerous youth can be rescued from the streets and supported to set up their own businesses and projects. However, is the 10 million seed capital for this initiative adequate for 15 million youthful Ghanaians ? Celebrated multinational companies started with some few pennies but today they are more than success stories. Warren Buffet bought shares in the Coca Cola company with just $ 40 but he is worth $5 billion today. The amount of money to begin an investment is important but the quality of investment should be the ultimate concern. We should focus on investing the little money we have into feasible business proposals and ideas of the unemployed youth rather than throwing away our lot into business proposals that cannot endure the test of time. The 10 million Ghana cedis seed capital is good but highly inadequate. Hence, there is the need for government to commit more resources to the fund if majority of the youth are to benefit.

Acquisition of the funds must not be shrouded in secrecy. There should be an open, transparent and equitable criteria for applicants seeking to access the fund. Political affiliations and sentiments coupled with ones region of birth or abode shouldn't be the basis for selecting applicants seeking to access the fund. Unlike previous state funds controversially dashed to political cronies, party footsoldiers and sympathisers and symbolically accounted for, the YES fund should be awarded to deserving Ghanaian youth on merit.

The decision by government to set up a secretariat to manage the fund with Mr Kwadwo Adu Asare a former parliamentarian as its chief executive officer is worrying. The National Youth Authority should have been given total responsibility for this initiative. Government could have saved millions of Ghana cedis as money to set up new offices and pay new staff could have been avoided had the National Youth Authority who are already on government payroll been given the mandate to manage this initiative. Numerous state institutions are in existence but technically not functional. This could have been an opportunity for the state to utilise the resources of the National Youth Authority as we hardly see them functioning as a state institution. The inactiveness of the National Youth Authority is mirrored across Ghana with numerous state institutions made of laviathan working force but virtually doing nothing to cushioning the nations quest to achieving development. They have simply become white elephants.

The NDC government have had problems with the smooth implementation of previous youth programs. Reference can be cited from the GYEEDA scandal which was engulfed with corruption, financial malfeasance and misappropriation of funds that has even warranted the prosecution of certain officials of GYEEDA by the state. The setting up of the YES fund is one hell of an opportunity for government to make or break it, with regards to the setting up and implementation of initiatives. GYEEDA might have failed woefully with millions of dollars wasted but we dare not succumb the YES fund to follow suit. The sustainability of the fund is equally important. Will government continue to nourish the fund with annual inflow of cash or will the beneficiaries be made to repay amounts given them to support future applicants as well ?

I also call on the youth of Ghana to adequately prepare themselves with the right businesses plans and proposals to qualify to access the fund.Let's not see this fund as an opportunity to have our fair share of the national cake rather, we should cherish it as an investment in us by our country and should go the length of making something meaningful out of it should we be beneficiaries of the fund.

A nation and continent calls for duty now!!!!!!!

God bless our homeland Ghana and make the youth great and strong.

Michael Kwadwo Nketiah {kwadwonketia47@gmail .com}