Achieving competencies is the most enduring route to job stability, asserts Bawumia
Unleashing the Can-Do Mindset: Empowering the Youth for a Brighter Future
Get ready to roll up your sleeves, young ones, because it's time to build a sustainable future with a can-do attitude! Our dear Vice President, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, has issued this call as we brace for the addition of approximately 6 million young people to our labour force by 2024.
The path to stable employment isn't about idly waiting for an opportunity to knock. No, it's about unleashing our creativity and skills to create opportunities across various sectors. This advice was given during the opening ceremony of the Ghana Youth Congress at Gomoa Fetteh.
Dr. Bawumia highlighted several government efforts aimed at empowering the youth. For instance, the banking sector is launching skills development programs for over 150,000 youth in the next three years. Meanwhile, the tourism, arts, and culture sector aims to train and certify 10,000 individuals on tourism and cultural skills by 2023.
Moreover, ongoing construction and modernization of National Vocational Training Institutes (NVTIs) and Opportunity Industrialisation Centres (OIC) are underway. Let's not forget the Youth Start initiative, which promises to support youth entrepreneurs with capital, training, technical skills, and mentorship. These initiatives, carefully designed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, aim to revitalize and transform the economy for the betterment of our youth.
The Ghana Youth Congress, organized by the Christian Council of Ghana, was held based on the theme "Ghana; My Home, My Future." This Congress is a prelude to the African Youth Congress, organized by the All-Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), which aims to engage Africa's youth, foster moral character, and dispel notions of supposed greener pastures elsewhere.
The African Youth Congress, originally scheduled for 2020 but postponed due to COVID-19, is now set to take place. As Rev. Dr. Fidon Mwombeki, the General Secretary of the AACC, stated, "To hold this Congress despite COVID-19, which we must all learn to live with, I must congratulate you. Let Africa now show the world that it is possible to live and work despite COVID-19."
The AACC decided in 2018 to focus on inspiring young Africans to reject negative narratives about Africa and instead focus on the continent's positive realities. These initiatives, coupled with the national goal of the congress, aim to create a brighter, more empowered future for Africa's youth.
In these challenging times, it's essential to remember that the power to build a sustainable and prosperous future lies in our collective hands. So, let's get to work, young dreamers!
Behind the Scenes: Empowering Youth and Promoting Entrepreneurship
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana and its partners have launched several initiatives to support youth and foster entrepreneurship. Here are some key initiatives:
1. National Business Agenda (NBA)
- Objective: Tackle youth and women's economic exclusion by addressing issues such as limited credit access, gender disparities, weak incubation infrastructure, and outdated regulatory frameworks[1].
- Support: Supported by key stakeholders like the European Union Delegation, Ministry of Finance, British Council, and the National Youth Authority[1].
2. Boost-to-Bloom Project
- Objective: Support youth-led horticulture in Northern Ghana through training and market connectivity, targeting 20,000 youth from 2025 to 2028, with a focus on women and persons with disabilities[3].
- Impact: Reduce youth unemployment and improve food system resilience in Northern Ghana, supporting national priorities like food security and rural resilience[3].
3. Ghana Grows Program - Empower360
- Objective: Provide practical trade skills and business development training to young people through initiatives like Empower360, along with starter packs for their chosen careers[4].
- Features: Includes intensive training sessions, business development modules, and mentorship, ensuring participants are well-equipped for success in their chosen fields[4].
These initiatives demonstrate a comprehensive approach by Ghana and its partners to nurture entrepreneurship and support youth development in the post-pandemic era.
- The National Business Agenda (NBA) aims to tackle economic exclusion among youth and women by addressing challenges such as limited credit access and outdated regulatory frameworks.
- The Boost-to-Bloom Project supports youth-led horticulture in Northern Ghana through training and market connectivity, targeting 20,000 youth, including women and persons with disabilities, from 2025 to 2028.
- The Ghana Grows Program - Empower360 provides practical trade skills and business development training to young people, offering starter packs for their chosen careers and featuring intensive training sessions, business development modules, and mentorship.
- These initiatives, aligned with national priorities like food security and rural resilience, are supported by key stakeholders like the European Union Delegation, Ministry of Finance, British Council, and the National Youth Authority.
- By fostering entrepreneurship, these programs encourage personal growth, career development, and job search opportunities for the youth, contributing to the overall economic development of the country.
- Skills training plays a crucial role in these programs, empowering the youth with the necessary tools for self-development, education, and future employment, ultimately paving the way for a brighter, more sustainable future.
