The National Youth Authority (NYA) has charged the Minority Caucus in Parliament not to allow prejudice to dictate their judgment on the 2020 Budget.
The Caucus, it said, should seize the opportunity and engage the Finance Minister without delay to address the concerns to ensure the quality and quantity of job creation initiatives promised the youth becomes reality.
The Authority expressed shock at the turn of events on Friday 26th November 2021 when debate on the budget was concluded but voting on the Motion turned into chaos.
In a statement, the NYA urged Parliament to play its role as spelt out in the 1992 Constitution.
“It is important that Parliament observes a high level of sensitivity towards matters of collective national interest.
“Any undue delay to the passage of the Budget would greatly disadvantage the Ghanaian youth and imperil the job creation opportunities in the Budget,” the statement said.
It urged the House to be guided by decorum, consensus, bipartisanship and the supreme interest of the generality of Ghanaians but particularly the youth in the passage of the budget.
The NYA, it said remains committed to promoting the best interests of the Ghanaian youth in accordance with its mandate and shall take all necessary steps in furtherance of that mandate.
The Authority on Thursday 25th November, 2021 held a press briefing to examine the implications of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy for the 2022 Financial Year as presented by the Minister for Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta on Wednesday 17th November 2021 to Parliament, for the youth of Ghana.
In the Briefing, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the NYA, Mr. Pius Enam Hadzide outlined at least 13 programmes in the budget developed to create employment opportunities and support youth entrepreneurs.
The Authority consequently endorsed the budget statement and the policy measures contained therein to actualise the listed programmes to tackle youth unemployment and prayed Parliament to pass the Budget.
The Budget was similarly endorsed by individual youth groups including the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS).
