Government institutions, regional ministers and MMDCEs have been charged to rally the youth to take advantage of the YouStart programme, which is expected to be launched by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in June.
“Out of our total population of 31 million about 11 million are young people between the ages of 15-35 years and so, we must invest in them more than we have done over the years,” the Deputy minister for finance and MP for Ejisu, Dr John Ampontuah Kumah said while engaging some government institutions and officials in Tamale as part of a nationwide stakeholder engagement on the programme.
“Through the E-Levy, the government can mobilise some GHC 1 billion and can invest in the job creation potential of the youth this year plus other commitment from our development partners and some selected banks. So, every government institution has an obligation to rally the youth in every part of the country for the YouStart programme,” he said.
Kumah also charged the youth to take ownership of the YouStart programme since it is a direct investment the government is making in their future to enable them implement the enterprising business ideas they have but cannot implement because they lack capital, access to market and funding.
“The YouStart programme is for every Ghanaian youth who has a business idea and needs training and funding to implement it and I also want to throw a challenge to every enterprising Ghanaian youth to take advantage of YouStart and to own it,” he added.
The programme was attended by government officials and municipal, metropolitan and DCEs from Upper West, Upper East, North East and Northern regions.
YouStart is being funded by the Electronic Levy.
