George Opare-Addo
MINISTER FOR Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare-Addo, has called on religious leaders to support the ministry’s youth-led initiatives.
Speaking at the Empowerment Worship Centre in Accra, as part of the National Youth Month celebration, Opare-Addo stated that the youth in Ghana, aside from unemployment, which has become a decade-old cancer in the country, are challenged by increasing cases of drug abuse.
“I want to touch on the issue of substance abuse. The data we are seeing is alarming, and it concerns us all. In some secondary schools, we’ve found that students are abusing a substance more dangerous than alcohol. This is a challenge that requires our collective attention,” he said.
Opare-Addo stated that this necessitated the launch of the “Red Means Stop” campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of substance abuse and specifically the dangers of opioids, urging everyone to join this campaign and take a stand against substance abuse. He called on religious leaders to preach against the abuse of drugs among their youths, to help fight the menace.
Speaking on youth unemployment, he stated that the ministry has identified a significant unemployment gap in the country, with data suggesting that out of 10 children who start school, only about three (3) will reach tertiary level, raising questions about the whereabouts of the other young people.
“To tackle this issue, the National Service Scheme, scholars, and secretariat, along with the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, have been tasked with finding meaningful ways to engage and train them,” he said.
He further stated that the launch of the National Apprenticeship Programme is designed to provide precision training to young people, particularly those who have not completed tertiary education.
“We’re working with master craftsmen in their communities to train them, as the classroom setting isn’t always suitable for these individuals. To support them, the government will cover apprenticeship fees and provide allowances, similar to those given to nursing and teacher training students,” he stated and added, “This year, we’re enrolling 10,000 participants in the programme, and the 2,000 with the best business proposals will receive additional support.”
To address the challenges emanating from the transition of young people from education to work, Mr. Opare-Addo said the National Service Authority had been tasked with supporting the youth, stressing, “We believe that building a strong nation starts with a reset of our mindset. Therefore, we are using the National Service Authority to provide a six-week military training programme for young men and women.”
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke