The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has launched the Business and Employment Assistance Program (B.E.A.P).
The program, championed by the Youth Employment Agency, is estimated to benefit 10, 000 medium and small-scale businesses and 20,000 individuals.
Dr. Bawumia called it an innovative idea, congratulating the agency for the good work it is doing,
“This program is a testament to our government’s focus on job creation since we came into office. You will all remember that at the time we came to office, unemployment was a real major problem. So our focus over these last 7 years has been to look at different ways to recruit more people, both by the private sector and the public sector.
“This is an innovative program.”
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
Furthermore, the Vice President indicated that in all humility and with all the data, the government of Nana Addo Akuffo Addo has done and been able to do in terms of recruiting people in this economy, both the public sector and the private sector has not been done by any government since the independence of this country.
According to him, the government has recruited to the public sector and private sector a total of 2.1 million people in the last 7 years; 975,000 from the private sector and 1.2 million from the public sector.
He underscored that the government’s focus on employment is very much on course and we are making progress. However, he admitted that there is still a very large number of youth unemployment. That is the reality we face. In Ghana, our population is about 31 million, the demographics of the data show that about 75% are 35 years old and below.
So government have a big job to create more and more jobs for the youth, he added.
“So even though we have recruited 2.1 million people, the work is yet not done. We have to do more because there is still a large number of people in need of jobs. But at least we can tell you that since we came into office, we have done more than any government.”
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
The Board Chair of YEA, Rev. Anita Kusi Boateng expressed her joy at the achievement of the agency.
“This is a testament to the YEA’s commitment to providing sustainable employment for the Ghanaian youth. I am honored and privileged to stand before you today as the board chair of your employment agency, to share with you the exciting and transformative initiative we have embarked upon; the business employment assistance program.”
Rev. Anita Kusi Boateng
The Essence Of B.E.A.P
In response to the challenges posed by unemployment, particularly among the youth, the Business Employment Assistance Program (BEAP) has been formulated with a specific objective: to provide support and rejuvenate small and medium-sized enterprises.
The program seeks not only to retain laid-off employees but also to facilitate the hiring of new talents, establishing a link between businesses and available resources through the employment agency job center.
A fundamental element of the business assistance program involves the provision of a monthly support grant, amounting to up to GHS 500 per employee. This financial injection is designed to ease the challenges faced by businesses, enabling them to concentrate on growth and development.
Recognizing the significance of empowering the youth with appropriate skills, the business employment assistance encompasses the provision of pre-employment and work readiness training for beneficiaries. This training is intended to enhance their personal skills and personal development, making them more competitive and better prepared for the job market.
Acknowledging the employment-related issues faced by businesses, the BEAP will also offer recruitment assistance. This support aims to help businesses connect with the right talents tailored to their specific needs.
The program is critically targeted at individuals aged between 16 and 35, ensuring inclusivity in the country’s pursuit of economic empowerment. Active participation is encouraged, not merely as a support system but as an invitation for young Ghanaians to innovate and play a central role in combating unemployment.
The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) is steadfast in its aim to reduce unemployment through initiatives like the BEAP, addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by unemployment and fostering economic empowerment.
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