Part of Youth Fund would be given out as loans- Deputy Minister

Dormaa-Ahenkro (B/A) Aug. 17 GNA - Mr. Kwaku Agyemang-Manuh, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning at the weekend said 10 billion out of the 50 billion cedis proposed Youth Fund is to be given out as loans to skilled trained persons. He said the facility is to help the beneficiaries to expand their businesses to be able to contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the country.

Mr. Agyemang-Manuh was speaking at the passing out of 30 graduands who underwent six months training course under the Skills Training and Employment Placement (STEP) programme at the Vocational Training Institute at Dormaa-Ahenkro in Brong Ahafo. The graduands, made up of 27 males and three females were trained in carpentry and joinery, masonry and electrical skills. The Deputy Minister said the government, realized after the registration of the unemployed and under-employed last year that most of them had no skills to enable them to obtain employment, hence the STEP programme.

Mr. Agyemang-Manuh said the passing out of the graduands was in fulfillment of the promise by the NPP to provide jobs for the youth. He appealed to the graduands to use the acquired skills and training to establish their businesses to earn more income to improve their living standards.

Mr. George Fred Kwablah Yevu, Acting Director of the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) reiterated that the STEP programme was an opportunity for the youth to acquire skills and training for employment to be able to contribute their quota to national development. In this way, poverty, which is endemic in the country, would be reduced, he said.

The Acting National Director urged parents, guardians and other relations to assist the graduands with capital to establish their businesses.

Nana Kwadwo Seinti, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, in a speech read for him said through the Inter-Ministerial committee in Action and Employment Generation (AFEG), the government has mapped out a programme to train thousands of jobless youth in various employable skills over a three-year period.

In addition, he said, an entrepreneurial training is being provided for those wishing to establish their own businesses to help people enter into businesses so as to avoid streetism.

The Regional Minister appealed to graduands, who would benefit from any form of financial assistance to repay promptly.

Mr. Emmanuel Duku, Dormaa District Chief Executive, disclosed that 40,000 unemployed people were registered during the nation-wide exercise conducted by the Government last year.

He said the Assembly, in its efforts to provide employment collaborated with the Centre of the Biodiversity Utilization Development of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi to train people in snail and grasscutter farming.

Mr. Yaw Ntow Ababio, an Accra-based businessman, who presided appealed to the government to train more youth to become self-employed. Mr. Ken Dapaah, Minister of Communications later cut the sod for the commencement of a 250-million-cedis girls hostel for the Institute.

ATTENTION RECIPIENTS: ITEM 03 ENDS OUR SECOND TRANSMISSION.