The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) is bringing on board a programme Business and Employment Assistance Programme (BEAP) to help reduce unemployment among the youth in the country.
The initiative aims to address the financial strains faced by Micro and Small Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) during the challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking about the programme, the CEO of the YEA, Kofi Baah Agyepong, revealed that the agency’s Business and Employment Assistance Programme is expected to help reduce Ghana’s unemployment rate by providing a lifeline for young individuals striving to secure a promising future.
According to Mr. Agyepong, the BEAP has been designed to offer support to struggling businesses, as a recent survey by the Ghana Statistical Service revealed the hardships faced by enterprises, including wage reductions and closures. The programme aims to provide a lifeline to MSMEs, offering salary support of GHS 500 per recruited employee, with employers supplementing the remainder.
The BEAP will target various establishments such as chop bars, pharmacies, and schools, with the goal of alleviating the financial burden on these enterprises while creating employment opportunities for Ghana’s workforce.
Mr. Agyepong stated that the programme plans to support 10,000 companies, facilitating the employment of approximately 20,000 individuals.
The CEO expressed his gratitude to the government for endorsing and supporting the programme, which he believes will be instrumental in Ghana’s fight against unemployment.
He also reassured the public that the YEA has sustainable funding from the Communication Service Tax, and emphasized the agency’s commitment to directing these funds solely towards job creation.
Mr. Agyepong highlighted the success of the YEA’s previous initiatives, including partnerships with state agencies, skills training, and fostering employment opportunities.
Despite the global economic challenges, he emphasized the agency’s dedication to reducing the rate of unemployment among young people and improving their quality of life.
In addition to the BEAP, the YEA has successfully recruited and trained thousands of individuals for various roles, including Community Protection Assistants, Community Health Workers, Prison Office Assistants, and workers on the Cocoa Rehabilitation Programme.
The agency has also provided support and training to entrepreneurs, insurance agents, and individuals in trade areas like carpentry, masonry, and hairdressing.
The statistics presented by Mr. Agyepong showcased the extensive impact of the YEA’s initiatives, with over 16,000 jobs created in the Ashanti Region alone. The growth in sectors such as community services, health, entrepreneurship, and vocational training offers hope to Ghana’s youth in their pursuit of stable employment and entrepreneurial ventures.
The YEA is currently recruiting an additional 20,000 young people to be trained and set up in various trade areas. Arrangements have been made for training to begin next week, further illustrating the agency’s commitment to empowering young individuals and reducing unemployment in Ghana.
By Vincent Kubi