President Akufo Addo has said government is exploring other alternatives to create jobs for the country’s youth.
Launching the Nation Builder’s Corps (NABCO) which will employ one hundred thousand graduates in Kumasi on Tuesday, the President said his administration is also committed to finding jobs for the country’s unemployed youth.
The President indicated that government’s goal of creating jobs for the youth will be accelerated through the implementation of government’s flagship programmes such as Planting for Food and Jobs, among others.
“Government’s commitment to job creation will not end here but will be accelerated through the implementation of our flagship programmes of One district, one factory; One village, one dam and the programme for Planting for Food and Jobs.
“We are also creating an enabling economic environment for the private sector to thrive. We should drive in investment, foreign and domestic and thereby help create jobs.”
The President further expressed concerns about what he called the “grim story of youth unemployment”, saying it had been a “tragic part of our lives for far too long in Ghana.”
The situation, according to the President has been worsened by the ban placed on public sector employment by the International Monetary Fund.
He was however hopeful the NABCO and other initiatives being introduced by government will address these challenges.
The programme is expected to create 100,000 jobs in seven sectors of the economy including Health, Education, Agriculture and ICT.
It also forms part of government’s commitment towards addressing the high unemployment situation in the country.
The programme, which will be managed by the office of the President, will focus on alleviating shortfalls in public service delivery.
It is expected to create jobs for unemployed graduates in each district of the country, and the graduates will reportedly be engaged for three years.
‘Over 1 million jobs created’
Meanwhile Employment and Labour Relations Minister, Ignatius Baffour Awuah has indicated that government has facilitated the creation of over one million jobs in the last one year.
Ignatius Baffour Awuah said the jobs which are mainly in the formal sector has helped reduced the unemployment rate in the country.
Speaking at the same event, the Minister said more job opportunities will be created by government.
“The government has made significant strides in addressing unemployment in Ghana. Between January 2017 and March 2018, government has facilitated the creation of 1, 960,404 jobs in both the public and private sector.”