Government to end youth unemployment- President tells General assembly The President, John Dramani Mahama has reiterated that government will vehemently be committed to the development and empowerment of youth to end youth unemployment in the country. He indicated that the government will create the Youth Jobs and Enterprise Development Fund, a program that will provide young people with entrepreneurial skills and access to the funds needed to establish businesses or expand existing ones, thereby creating new employment opportunities. The Government of Ghana in the quest to curb the increasing rate of youth unemployment introduced the Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA). This initiative over the few months has been fraught with an alleged corruption, mismanagement and embezzlement of fund from its coffers. This initiative (Youth Jobs and Enterprise Development Fund) is an attempt by the government to strengthen and restructure GYEEDA. The president made this known at the 68th session of United Nation General Assembly. The president acknowledged Africa as the six of the ten fastest growing economies in the world. He however, bemoaned that the prospect of economic growth on the continent has not yet been translated into sustainable employment opportunities. “…Over the course of the last decade, African economies created over 37 million wage-paying jobs, yet 63 percent of workers remain trapped in low paying subsistence or self-employment endeavours” he added. According to the President, Africa is a fast growing continent with over 50% of its population below the ages of 35 a figure which to him calls for a direct investment into the youthful population who can transform the economy. This can be done by creating more jobs for the youth. If this should be done, then we should begin to value what we have and our resources he said. He explained that Africa don’t only need to export raw materials as a continent but rather add value to export which will boast the economy of the Africans thereby creating new jobs for the youth. Together with local and foreign investors who share our vision, this can be done, he emphasized He added that Ghana would continue to tighten its boarders to ensure that militants do not use Ghana’s territorial boarders to attack neighboring countries. “Our rivers will no longer flow red. Our children must be students now; we will no longer allow their childhoods to be stolen by those who wish to turn them into soldiers” President Mahama said. The president, again acknowledged that even though Ghana is lagging in MDG 4,5 and 7 that is Infant and maternal mortality as well as water and sanitation, but there has been a significant improvement in MDG 2,3 and 6 which is targeted at reducing poverty and hunger and most importantly encouraging enrollment in schools. There has also been reduction on the infection of HIV/AIDS he noted. Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama in a quite authoritative voice told World Leaders that Africa does not need sympathy from the West but rather partnerships that will help develop the continent. Dzikunu Richard M. Ghananewslink
Posted on: Fri, 27 Sep 2013 16:08:35 +0000
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