GYEEDA exit plans not sustainable – GDCA
The Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency’s (GYEEDA) exit plans currently under implementation are not sustainable, Mr Al-hassan Mohammed, Assistant Programmes Coordinator of the Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA) has said.
He explained that the exit plans had no legal document to compel institutions and organizations to absorb beneficiaries whose terms had expired and that it had the tendency of frustrating such beneficiaries.
“Institutions or organizations that might even absorb the beneficiaries can pay them meager salaries and no one can talk about it”, he said.
Mr Mohammed, who was speaking at the Annual Youth Forum (AYAF) organized by Youth Empowerment for Life (YEfL) at Dalun in the Kumbungu district, said the exit plans of GYEEDA also contradicted the nation’s constitutional provision of the right to work and to receive appropriate remuneration for a decent and dignified living.
The AYF, which served as a platform where all youth groups and other stakeholders meet to deliberate on issues affecting them was on the theme: “A concrete exit strategy on GYEEDA exit modules for youth in Ghana, a means to sustainable employment”.
Mr Mohammed suggested that in other to make the Agency’s exit plans more effective, an appropriate labour market and demand studies should be conducted to support the roll-out of required exit modules to enable the youth to contribute efficiently to national development.
He also commended President Mahama for his determination to restructure GYEEDA and urged him to incorporate the informal sector in the design and delivery of the various modules.
Mr Mohammed said GYEEDA should partner with Technical and Vocational Institutions in skills development in sectors of construction and housing, tourism and hospitality, livestock and horticulture, oil and gas and electronics as well as mechanical engineering as alternative exit modules.
“GYEEDA should support strengthening the connection of new youth businesses to available market, and to improve the marketing skills and attitudes of youth entrepreneurs. There should be a self confidence building, developing of business plans and executive coaching,” he said.
Mr Mohammed appealed to government to implement the GH¢10 million Youth Jobs and Enterprise Development Fund it promised to encourage and support young people to become successful entrepreneurs and create sustainable job opportunities.
“Early roll-out of the Job and Enterprises Centres (JEC) in all regions as pledged, in the last State of the Nation’s Address”, he said.
Mr Zakaria Issah Nabila, Board Chairman of Youth Empowerment for Life said pockets of conflicts in some regions of the country could be a thing of the past, if the youth were gainfully employed, which could also promote sustainable peace.
He urged the youth not to allow themselves to be used as catalyst by politicians to spark violence before, during and after the 2012 Presidential election petition at the Supreme Court. Verdict of the Court is expected on August 29.
Source: GNA