President Akufo-Addo has expressed government’s commitment to ensuring investment in training the youth. According to him, the development of requisite skills for the labour market will have a positive impact on the economy.
The President cited countries who have invested in their human capital and they include Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea. With this, he explained that these countries are benefiting from the skills of such investment.
He also indicated that the construction of a GHC 5million Ghana Award House project will help shape the skills of the youth.
“I place great hope in the capacity of Ghanaian youth; to shape our future and make Ghana truly the Black star of Africa. Government, since 2017, continues to invest heavily in the development and education of our young people.
“Vehicles are also to be allocated to the Secretariat for its use. In addition to the one-million-cedi contribution to this project, Government pledges to do what it can to ensure that the project is completed in the next thirty-six (36) weeks”.
The President further called on individuals, corporate bodies in the construction industry to participate and bring the project to fruition. President Akufo-Addo revealed that they can donate bags of cement, blocks and other building materials in support of this project.
750,000 participants benefit from Head of State Award Scheme
President Akufo-Addo further averred that the Head of State Award Scheme has impacted the lives of many young Ghanaians. Accordingly, the scheme has benefited some 750,000 young people in the country.
To further achieve this, the President revealed that the Scheme will require a “befitting administrative office”.
“And that is why I continue to urge them to ensure that as many young Ghanaians as possible benefit from it. The provision of a Ghana Award House; to serve this purpose, is my commitment towards driving the agenda of the Award Scheme”.
Once completed, the Ghana Award House project will be a two-storey office block, with a two hundred capacity conference room. It will also have a training facility designed to house the National Secretariat of the Head of State Award Scheme.
The construction will cost of five million cedis (GH¢5 million). And it will help drive growth, impact and the effective and efficient delivery of the Award Scheme; to all young people in Ghana and beyond.
Completion of Ghana House project will put Ghana ahead
The President further explained that the “completion of the Ghana Award House project will put Ghana ahead of many of the countries”. To him, Ghana will be a strong competition for countries “running the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award”.
This will mean that Ghana “will be the second country in Africa, after the Presidents’ Award of Kenya, and one of the few countries globally, to have its own administrative office.”
President Akufo-Addo also announced that, the operational cost will be catered for by the Office of the President, under the direct supervision of the Chief of Staff.
“Together, we can help make this project a reality. I thank all who have contributed consistently towards the success of the Award Scheme. Now is not the time to rest on our oars, but to help realize the vision of an Award Scheme that is truly self-sustaining”.
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