National Employment Policy in the offing-Adda

Abura Ahanta (W/R), July 12, GNA - Mr Joseph Adda, the Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, has said a national employment policy would be designed as soon as the Presidential Employment Summit and Job Fair takes place later this year.

He said the summit would provide a forum for the drafting of the policy that would make special employment interventions for the youth. Mr Adda said this at the fourth Speech and Prize-Giving Day and Presentation of Working Tools at the Abura Youth Leadership and Skills Training Institute on Monday.

He said internship and vacation employment would be encouraged and advised the youth to work hard, to be disciplined and be committed to their education.

Mr Adda said the government had, through the National Youth Council (NYC), released 500 million cedis for the construction of a six-unit classroom block, library, office and store for the school. The government recently released 4.5 billion cedis for two new Youth Leadership institutes at Ajumako Afranse and Wassa Akropong in the Central and Western regions respectively.

"Youth employment is a matter of concern for the government and civil society, since unemployment of the youth would have adverse effects on the society as a whole," he said.

Mr Adda said the ministry had initiated a Youth-in -Agriculture Programme that would focus on the use of upland and irrigated lands.

Mr Jacob Kotin, World Vision Ghana, Associate Director in charge of Southern Sector, said the equipment being presented to the 118 graduates of the institute cost 87.4 million cedis.

He said tools, which include hair dryers, sewing machines, masonry, carpentry, catering and electrical tools, were meant to serve as the start up capital for the youth.

Mr Joe Mantey, National Coordinator of the NYC, appealed to the teachers of the school to be patient since the ministry was working for a review of their salaries.

Mrs Mercy Nunoo, Acting Principal said the institute that was established in 1999 with 78 students, now has a population of 261. Last year 156 students wrote the National Vocational Training Institute examination (NVTI) grades one and two and 103 passed representing 66 per cent.

The Principal said another 157 have been presented for the examinations this year.

Mrs Nunoo said the lack of a means of transport was hindering their activities while absence of teachers' quarters was also a major challenge confronting the school.

She appealed to the Ahanta West District Assembly and other philanthropists to come to the aid of the school. 12 July 05