Ministry to initiate review of national youth policy

The Ministry of Youth and Sports will initiate
action to review the National Youth Policy to make it dynamic, pro-youth,

and multi-partisan in line with the youth manifesto prepared during the 2004 general election.

The Ministry will also facilitate the formalization of vocational and apprenticeship training and establish a National Training and Placement board to facilitate and regulate vocational and apprenticeship training and placement scheme.

This was announced on Thursday by the Minister of Finance, Dr Kwabena Duffuor when he presented the government's 2009 budget to Parliament in Accra.

He said a 3-year strategic plan which would detail out the policies, strategies and activities for youth and sports development in the country will be prepared in collaboration with stakeholders.

He noted that unemployment was very high across the globe due to the recession currently being experienced and the youth were the hardest hit.

“Government will therefore place greater emphasis on employment for the youth.”

He said in line with this, the National Youth Employment Programme would be evaluated with the view to making it effective and efficient for youth employment.

He said as part of the general evaluation of the programme in 2009 the Ministry will take steps to re-organize and re-vitalize the Youth in Agri-Business Module of the NYEP, as agriculture, the mainstay of our economy, has the greatest potential for job creation.

Furthermore, modules such as ICT, Trades and Vocations which have the greatest potential for employment creation and building an entrepreneurial spirit in the youth towards sustainable job creation will be made operational.

Dr Duffuor said the Trades and Vocations module would train young persons with the master craftsmen and women within their communities after which they will be supported to set up micro and small businesses.

The Minister said graduate unemployment had been identified as a disincentive for pursuing higher education and investment in education.

He said the Ministry in collaboration with other stakeholders would initiate action this year to find a lasting solution to the problem.

Dr Duffuor said the Paid Internship and Industrial Attachment Module of the NYEP would be reorganized to provide avenue for gaining some experience for graduates after National Service.

“The private sector and other stakeholders will be encouraged to absorb unemployed graduates after national service in fields such as accountancy, ICT, banking, marketing, hotel management, teaching and procurement. Incentives

schemes to motivate graduates to take up employment in district assemblies and in education where vacancies exist will also be supported.”

GNA