The CEOs exchanging the documents
The Forestry Commission and the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) have signed a service agreement under which the Commission would employ 15,000 youth nationwide.
The signing of the agreement by the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the two institutions, which took place at Commission’s headquarters located near Legon, Accra on Wednesday, was witnessed by a number of dignitaries, including the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Benito Owusu-Bio.
According to the CEO of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, the signing of the two-year service agreement would establish a formal relationship between state institutions for the implementation of a Forestry Plantation Programme (FPP) under the Youth in Agriculture and Afforestation Module.
He indicated the recruits, whose employment takes effect in January 2018, would be trained and equipped to carry out forestry plantation establishment, maintenance of existing plantations, coppice management and enrichment planting, among others.
Commending President Nana Akufo Addo for his passion to ensure that the youth in Ghana are gainfully employed, Mr Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie mentioned that government has already disbursed GH¢6 million out of the overall budget of GH¢144 million as first tranche for training and payment of salaries for the recruits.
He further indicated that the recruits would receive a monthly allowance of GH¢400.
Mr Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie also indicated that the Commission, through the Forestry Services Division, has recruited 10,000 farmers under the National Forest Plantation Development Programme, adding that the programme has led to the reclamation of about 4,000 hectares of forests nationwide.
Justin Kodua Frimpong, CEO of YEA, mentioned that YEA has reached similar agreements with the Ghana Police Service, Local Government Services (LGS) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
He expressed happiness in partnering the Forestry Commission to implement the Youth in Afforestation Module.
“We remain committed to working very hard to help make the President’s vision of creating jobs for the people a reality, we urge all the youth nationwide to take advantage of the opportunities available now,” he added.
By Solomon Ofori