Mr. John Kumah, Deputy Minister of Finance has indicated that government will work with the private sector to make the 1 million jobs available.
He said the one million jobs expected to be created for the youths of this country will not be in the government sector.
“When we talk about one million jobs we are not talking about jobs in the government sector.
“We are going to do that through a number of government agencies, the National Entrepreneurship Programme, the Ghana Enterprises Agency and the Youth Employment agencies. So, we are going to push for job creation in the private sector as well.”
John Kumah
His comments follow the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta’s announcement of the creation of 1 million jobs and also the setting up of a scheme to help the youth set up businesses across the country after he admitted that the issue of employment and jobs for the youth has been a worry to the government.
Employment initiatives haven’t yielded results
Also contributing to the discussion, the MP for Cape Coast South, Mr. Kwaku Ricketts-Hagan casts doubts over the ability of the Akufo-Addo administration to create the 1 million jobs it has promised in the 2021 mid-year budget.
He said that the government has attempted several measures to tackle the growing unemployment rate in the country, however, in his view, those initiatives have not yielded any result.
Mr Ricketts-Hagan who is also a former Deputy Minister of Finance said looking at what the ruling government has done in the last few years, it is not the first time they are addressing unemployment and youth unemployment but it has not yielded much results.
“You will notice that unemployment is a time bomb for all of us and whichever political party that is in power, if you don’t address the youth unemployment, we are going to have some serious problems.
“If you look at the Planting for Food and Jobs, it was supposed to create jobs for everyone but much emphasis and focus on the youth. If you look at one district one factory, it is supposed to create jobs for everyone with much emphasis on the youth. The government says they have absorbed 100,000 of graduate unemployed.”
Ricketts-Hagan
Gov’t on 1 Million jobs
Presenting the mid-year budget review, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta said government is easing the restrictions in the private sector to enable businesses expand and create jobs for the youth.
“We aim to empower our youth to be at ease and venture into business.”
Ken Ofori-Atta
He said government has targeted a ‘1-million Jobs’ initiative to aggressively respond to the needs of the youth.
“Mr. Speaker, the Enterprise and Youth Support Fund, which aligns with Government’s overall strategy of developing a competitive and viable private sector economy, will Set up a ‘Youth banc’ with the aim of financing youth-led start-up businesses across the country.
“As part of this initiative, an online investment hub will be established for youth across the country to access information for the purpose of establishing businesses. Under this initiative, it is estimated that over 100,000 jobs will be created.”
Ken Ofori-Atta
