Gov’t Unveils GH¢10m Youth Enterprise

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri



  President John Mahama
Government has announced a GH¢10 million youth entrepreneurship programme aimed at promoting the business ideas of the youth in the country.

Under the Young Enterprise Support (YES) Initiative announced by President John Dramani Mahama at the International Youth Day Celebration in Accra, selected young entrepreneurs will receive training, start-up capital to be able to start and grow their businesses.

Speaking on the theme, ‘Investing in Young People: The Key to Ghana’s Transformation and Economic Development,’ President Mahama said supporting young people to start their businesses with the skills they need for the future was a key part of his administration’s long-term plan.

‘The YES Initiative will help generate jobs and access to the fund will be strictly based on merit and open to all Ghanaian youth, irrespective of political, gender and cultural background,’ he said.

He added that all who will meet the requirement for the fund will be considered.

He further noted that the technical and vocational centers in the country would be rebranded to give them the support they deserve and enable them provide adequate skills training for young people.

President Mahama also noted that the construction of 73 new community-based schools in the country and granting tertiary institutions more responsibilities will help provide more skills training for the youth.

Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi, representative of the United Nations in the country, urged government to implement the national youth implementation plan.

He said youth empowerment was apt and therefore asked government to continue with programmes and policies that would boost investment in the youth.

‘Let us ensure young people’s voices are incorporated in policies affecting them,’ he said.

Ras Mubarak, Coordinator of the National Youth Authority, in an address, said government was working hard to create an enabling environment  for the youth to develop their business ideas.

He, however, called for more commitment on the part of government to help the authority address issues like youth unemployment, poverty and crime.

Mr. Mubarak also urged the youth to take advantage of existing initiatives of the government in order to become great entrepreneurs.

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri
 
 
 
 

Comments:
This article has 0 comment, leave your comment.