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| Two million unemployed in Ghana |
12/27/2006 |
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The Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Alhaji Boniface Abubakar Saddique has estimated the umeployment number in the country to be two million and said out of that number, 78,000, representing 26 per cent, were between the ages of 18-25.
He, therefore, advised the youth to take advantage of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) to get something to do in order to earn their keep.
The minister made the remark last Friday in Accra when some officials of his ministry interacted with the media to explain the programmes so far embarked upon by the ministry.
Commenting on the numerous industrial disputes which hit the labour front this year, the minister expressed the hope that the Fair Wages Commission (FWC) would help to stem labour agitation.
He urged the labour unions and employees, such as the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Ghana Employers Association (GEA), to work at resolving labour issues amicably in order to bring sanity to the industrial sector.
The National Co-ordinator of the NYEP, Mr Leo Kaba, in a separate interview, expressed his appreciation to the opposition parties, notably the National Democratic Congress (NDC), for supporting the programme.
He said every home in Ghana had at least an unemployed youth and added that the programme, in the long term, would provide sustenance for the numerous youths who were currently out of jobs.
He said the organisations which absorbed the interns had been granted tax rebates by the government so that they could be encouraged to absorb more unemployed youths under the programme.
He mentioned the employment modules as paid internship, waste and sanitation and vacation jobs, among others, and was particularly happy about the recent rise in revenue mobilisation by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, with the support of about 300 youths.
IN the same interview Saddique commended the media for undertaking positive but critical reportage of his ministry.
"Although sections of the media have been critical of us, that has propelled me to work harder, thereby putting me on my toes," he declared.
Alhaji Saddique said in an interview that during his tenure as the Northern Regional Minister, the good media reports the region enjoyed contributed to bringing about peace and tranquillity in the Dagbon Traditional Area, especially during the burial of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II.
Source:
Culled From Graphic
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