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Regional News of Thursday, 11 July 2013

Source: Joy Online

15,000 youth to work in MMDAs as interns

About 15,000 volunteers across the country are to be recruited through the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, for the Ghana Students Industrial Attachment Programme (GSIAP).

The students Industrial Attachment Programme is an initiative geared towards bridging the gap between theory taught in schools and practice in the industry.

The programme is being led by Social Engineer and Mobiliser, Nathanial Ebo Nsarko.

Mr. Ebo Nsarko, Chief Executive of GSIAP noted with dismay the various approaches adopted by government and other civil society organisations without success in tackling the unemployment menace. He, therefore, suggested a practical approach in tackling the canker.

He declared unemployment rate in Ghana could be reduced drastically, by the year 2017 if strategic policies are implemented.

Mr. Ebo Nsarko told journalists in Accra that the present unemployment rate which he claims is hovering around 13-15% will be cut to size by 2015, if specific strategic policies are implemented.

The unemployment canker will be significantly reduced by 2017 if those proposed pragmatic policies are vigorously pursued, he said.

He noted that most Ghanaian students have had to choose their career path and professions without a shred of understanding the practical realities involved in their respective chosen fields.

This lack of hands-on training inevitably adversely affect the productivity of these prospective job seekers as they end up either failing miserably or are unable to give off their utmost best in those chosen fields of endeavor.

Throwing more light on Industrial Attachment Initiative, Mr. Ebo Nsarko stated that, beneficiary student attachés will be exposed to the culture of the practical world of work, whilst systematically defining their career trajectory.

Explaining further, he noted that attachés will also have the opportunities to acquire relevant work experiences in their chosen fields in leading organizations in Ghana and more importantly foster synergies between the academia and the industry.

He said his outfit is in league with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to provide industrial attachment opportunities with a special focus on environmental protection and sanitation.

Mr. Nsarko noted that, to this effect, students will be trained on best environmental and sanitation practices and subsequently, they will be posted to their respective communities and districts as public Education interns, to embark on local sustainable sanitation awareness and behavioral campaigns.