Minister of Trade and Industry Mr. K.T Hammond has reiterated government’s commitment to providing employment avenues for the teeming number of unemployed youth in the country.
He stated this following the nationwide commencement of the YouStart Initiative being implemented by the Ghana Enterprise Agency.
The initiative promises to train about 50,000 youth across the length and breadth of the country.
Although, the Minister maintains that government is challenged in providing 100 percent employment for the youth in the government sector, the Ministry of Trade and Industry through the Ghana Enterprise Agency is ensuring that other capacity building ventures and start up capitals are made available for up-coming entrepreneurs.
K.T Hammond made these comments during a tour of some selected You Start training centres in Accra to facilitate the commencement of the programme.
“Government is going on a drive to ensure that there is employment in the country. We cannot say there is full employment; No economy can truly boost of 100 percent employment,” he said.
“But then again it is the case that government is trying to put steps and measures in place which will some extent ensure that there is a level of employment in the country. So this drive in about three years’ time should help create about a million jobs,” he added.
On her part, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprise Agency, Kosi Yankey- Ayeh highlighted the stages of the training and urged participants to take full advantage to enhance their competences
“The goal of the You Start Intervention which falls under the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project is to provide entrepreneurship training and competitive start up grant to the youth of this nation,” she explained.
“The target for this first phase is 50,000 beneficiaries who will go through the various training program. The initial stages are the basic which has started in almost every district. Those are committed and success will move onto the intermediary level and from that stage to the advance level,” she noted.
