Civil Society Organizations laud gov’t for YouStart programme

Some civil society organisations (CSOs) have lauded the Government for initiating the YouStart programme to address the youth unemployment situation in the country.

Addressing the media after a sensitisation workshop for some CSOs on the YouStart initiative in Accra, Mr Sherif Ghali, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs, said it was timely and would help address Ghana’s unemployment challenges.

“Government must be commended for deciding to embark on this bold initiative and investing GHc10 million in entrepreneurship in the next three years. This is huge and good news for the numerous Ghanaian youth looking for sustainable jobs,” he said.

“The unemployment numbers can only be reduced when the private sector is supported to expand and create jobs, the YouStart programme per the design and structure will have a huge impact on the Ghanaian youth and we are looking forward to its launch by the President.”

Mr Ghali, however, called on the government to be transparent in managing the programme and not allow it to become another political tool to favour a few persons.

“This is one of the few times that before the launch of a major flagship programme, government is soliciting feedback from the civil society groups, which signalled that this time round it intends to do things properly, a step in the right direction,” he said.

The YouStart initiative is expected to be funded with revenue from the Electronic Transfer Levy.

The workshop was addressed by Dr John Ampontuah Kumah, a Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, and Madam Korsi Yankey, Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprises Agency.

CSOs that participated included Star Ghana, SENDGhana, Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs, Centre for Community Livelihood Development, and Network of Empowered Youth for Development.

The rest were the Ghana Federation of Disabality, African Centre for Economic Transformation, Centre For Active Learning and Integrated Development, OXFAM, and the Institute for Democratic Governance.