Admitting that he couldn’t “vouch for those figures,” the Union’s General Secretary, Edward Kareweh said on Eyewitness News that the number will have to be treated to more scrutiny.

[contextly_sidebar id=”fc9ZFqTTlABK8GmMdQZRdQhwmXgbUGnl”]The Food and Agriculture Minister, Dr. Afriyie Akoto announced that 745,000 jobs had been created under the first phase of the Planting for Food and Jobs programme with the caveat that the jobs were “unofficial jobs.”

The minister explained to the media that the jobs were created in rural areas and were essentially not taxable and did not contribute to pension funds following the earlier scepticism that met the announced figure.

The figures were based on the number of additional inputs as well as improved seeds and fertilizers supplied to participating farmers in 2017.

Jobs must be tangible

Mr. Kareweh expects the jobs created in the sector to be tangible as he noted that “if someone is in employment, you can see, so it is easier to verify. When you don’t see, it does not exist.”

Furthermore, he said the government needed to show how those jobs are generated because “if we are indeed able to generate such jobs, it would endear confidence in whatever we are doing and then, within a very short period, in our development trajectory, we will be able to curb the huge unemployment levels in our economy. But for the 745,000 jobs, we need to interrogate it further and the minister needs to come out much and prove to all of us that indeed these jobs have been created.”

To highlight how the figures could possibly be skewed, Mr. Kareweh remarked that, “even within the crop sub-sector, it is only five crops that were targeted and only five crops with 200,000 farmers could generate 745,000 jobs for us?”

Per the government’s trajectory, he said the crop sector alone could generate 2 million jobs and “within two years, there will virtually be no unemployment in this country and that doesn’t appear to be so.”

Aside from this, Mr. Kareweh said the jobs created needed to be sustainable.

“If you give jobs to someone for only a short period, two days or five days, that is not the type of job we are talking about and no one can live on a five-day job that has been given to them… we need to actually move beyond just putting the figures out there and also talk about jobs people can live on.”

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Prove 745,000 jobs claim – GAWU to Agric Ministry appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Ghanaian economy is one that has seen a lot of unevenness and inconsistency in growth patterns.

An issue that remains a concern in most reports on the economy is the rate of unemployment and underemployment, especially among the youth.

This poses a herculean task for policymakers over the years, who have tried to lessen if not eradicate the problem.

According to the report, the month of December constituted the sixteenth successive month in which staffing levels were increased.

This increase was a response to higher output requirements leading to the increase rate recorded for job creation for the month of December.

The PMI also reported that, Ghanaian companies recorded solid increases in business activities in December.

According to respondents, higher new orders alongside good quality products and services, had been behind the upturn in output.

As a result, charges rose at a marked pace, the sharpest since March. This further indicates an increase in output prices in each of the past six months.

Overall input prices increased sharply at the end of 2017, and to the greatest extent in nine months.

The Standard Bank Ghana Purchasing Managers’ Index is based on data compiled from monthly replies to questionnaires sent to purchasing executives in approximately 400 private sector companies, which have been carefully selected to accurately represent the true structure of the Ghanaian economy, including agriculture, construction, industry, services and wholesale and retail.

The panel is stratified by GDP and company workforce size. Survey responses reflect the change, if any, in the current month compared to the previous month based on data collected mid-month.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to the Chief Executive of the Plan, John Kumah, the NEIP will commission 29 factories in February as part of the government’s flagship one-district, one-factory programme.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Tywp6LLluQq8gu0MHYLpDOPrJJSot0x0″]“We are supposed to help create industrial subcontracting arrangements for young people who want to do business and succeed. We have designed a programme we call the NEIP industrialization project and that will feed into the one-district, one-factory agenda of government. At the moment, we are about to commission about 29 factories, in partnership with Exim Bank Ghana and the Venture Capital Fund. We have very critical businesses and factories lined up,” he said on Eyewitness News on Friday.

“By February, we are doing this in partnership with some Indian partners Exim and Venture Capital. What we are doing is to establish these factories and get private young people that we are training.”

John Kumah noted that, the NEIP had received applications from over 7, 000 startups for financial and technical support from the government.

He stated that some of those businesses which aren’t approved for support from the Plan, but who align with the factories could be engaged to run the factories with the view of taking over fully in the next five years.

“Those who won’t even receive funding in the 7, 000 applications, some of them whose businesses fall in line with these factories, can be engaged to become the owners. So you run to pay back those investments into Exim Bank or the Venture Capital Fund and then you become the eventual owners of those factories after five to seven years,” he said.

‘20, 000 indirect jobs’

The project, which is being funded by the Exim Bank and the Venture Capital Fund is being undertaken in collaboration with India who are responsible for the construction of the factories.

John Kumah also indicated that, aside from the 5, 000 jobs that would be created directly from the commissioning of these factories, over 20, 000 people were expected to be employed indirectly as well.

“We are hoping to create about 5, 000 jobs out of these 29 factories. The Indians are helping to build and bring the machinery. Exim Bank, Venture Capital Fund and NEIP will be paying for it, and then the private young businesses that we are bringing up, will run it, pay for it and become eventual owners,” he said.

“That will also help create a number of jobs. We can create about 20, 000 indirect jobs from the NEIP Industrialization project alone. All this is this year, 2018.”

NEIP gets funding boost

The NEIP received a major boost last July when President Nana Akufo-Addo announced that government has set up a 100 million dollar package to fund the plan.

Outlining four main challenges to be solved by the NEIP, the president stated at the time that “the overall objective of this plan is to stimulate private sector growth to accelerate job creation and to provide entrepreneurial Ghanaian youth with a critical alternative to salaried appointment.”

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NEIP targets 5, 000 jobs from Industrialisation Project appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He admits it is a national security issue, but assured that his government is working towards creating an enabling environment that will allow the private sector to thrive in order to drive the job creation agenda.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Q6IjqSMu0FeHi4BFE8YeJjAGAFISj4Hp”]Speaking at the 69th Annual New Year School and Conference at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana, Dr. Bawumia admitted the current unemployment levels were a “national security issue”, but insisted that the government was committed to ensuring that the problem is addressed.

“High unemployment is the key and most pressing issue of our time. It is a national security issue because the devil finds work for idle hands. Ultimately the high level of unemployment is a reflection of the underlined weaknesses in our economy. This is why the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has placed job creation as the number one priority of government,” he said.

The event was under the theme “Job creation for Accelerated  National Development: The role of the private sector,” which was a major point for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) well before they assumed office.

The Vice President emphasized that it is important for the private sector to play a leading role in the creation of jobs with government only serving as a facilitator,

“It goes without saying that government’s role is to put in place an enabling environment for the private sector to drive job creation. Fundamentally, however, you have to build an engine, and an engine has many parts but you have to build an engine that is going to drive job creation,” he said.

‘100, 000 jobs in 2018’

Dr. Bawumia reiterated government’s plans to create jobs for 100, 000 unemployed graduates in 2018 through the Nation Builders Corps initiative.

The programme was announced as a government initiative in the 2018 budget to provide the jobs at a cost of GHc 600 million.

The focus of the initiative is to improve public service delivery in health, education, agriculture, sanitation and also drive revenue mobilization and collection.

The programme has been scrutinized by the Minority in Parliament, and  Policy think tank, Imani Africa, who have cited a duplication of roles with the already existing Youth Employment Programme.

However, the Vice President believes that the initiative is needed to create jobs for graduates in various sectors of the economy.

“Employment is a major problem. There are a lot of vacancies [for unemployed graduates] that we have whether it’s teaching or nursing,” he said.

‘Foundation laid for jobs’

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said in December that the government has put structures in place to ensure that the country’s unemployment challenges are addressed.

According to Nana Addo, despite inheriting an economy in dire straits, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration has worked assiduously towards ensuring that job opportunities are created for Ghanaians.

“We’ve had important challenges; Invincible and Delta Forces and the tensions at the grassroots of the party over jobs. I appreciate very much the anxiety over jobs. What I’m saying is that, the foundation has been laid for jobs. It has not been easy because we inherited a bankrupt economy, but because of the ingenuity of the people I’m working with, we’ve been able to lay a good foundation,” the President said.

“Let us remain united and confident, we are on the right path and soon it will be obvious to everybody. Our race is not a sprint, it is a cross-country, it is a marathon race and we are going to win at the end, not just at the beginning.”

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post High unemployment a ‘national security’ issue – Bawumia appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The project, which was launched today [Tuesday] is aimed at inculcating in youth and women, the habit of conserving the environment by planting more and appropriately using the resources the environment provides.

The project will run in the Greater Accra and Brong Ahafo regions.

“6000 women and youth will be the beneficiaries for three years. The aim of the program is to provide green skills for youth and women and also help them understand and protect the environment,”Madam Alaincha said.

The program which is set to run for three years will be funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by Plan Ghana, in partnership with the District Assemblies and the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations.

Its objective is to seek the collaboration of some micro finances to provide money for the employers.

“The program would also combine micro-finance activities, savings and loan for youth and women, and some skill training for employment. And it has a village savings and loan component”.

Fadimata Alainchar was also optimistic that if the project was a success after the three year run, it could be extended to the other regions in the country.

“Maybe after the three years and if the evolution is done, we would be able to extend it to all the communities. It is gradual,” she added.

The Deputy Minister of Employment and Labor Relations, Bright Wireko Brobbey who launched the program, expressed his joy, stating the project would complement some of the Government’s flagship programs to provide employment in the country.

“Employment creation is a key priority of this government. In this perspective, a number of flagship programs are being rolled in every part of the country to create a sustainable livelihood for youths,” he said.

“The implementation of the Green Skills for Ghana Project is therefore expected to complement these flagship employment interventions. It is in this view that I welcome your program which is geared towards the delivery of the same objective.”

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By: Ann-Shirley Ziwu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Plan Ghana to employ 6,000 Ghanaian youth appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to Nana Addo, despite inheriting an economy in dire straits, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration has worked assiduously towards ensuring that job opportunities are created for Ghanaians.

[contextly_sidebar id=”FuFBgYGYFiqSBB07J5cfmjdq1XVqmeUn”]”We’ve had important challenges; Invincible and Delta Forces and the tensions at the grassroots of the party over jobs. I appreciate very much the anxiety over jobs. What I’m saying is that, the foundation has been laid for jobs. It has not been easy because we inherited a bankrupt economy, but because of the ingenuity of the people I’m working with, we’ve been able to lay a good foundation,” the President said.

“Let us remain united and confident, we are on the right path and soon it will be obvious to everybody. Our race is not a sprint, it is a cross-country, it is a marathon race and we are going to win at the end, not just at the beginning.”

Speaking on Sunday at the NPP’s extraordinary National Delegates Conference in Kumasi, President Akufo Addo also stated that, despite being in office for under a year, the government had been able to undertake many of the projects it had promised prior to the elections.

He added that plans were far advanced to ensure that these projects are intensified in the new year, and that number of other pledges they made to Ghanaians will commence.

“The year has been full of important achievements which have won the admiration of the nation. We’ve fulfilled our Free Senior High School pledge and our determination to revive the National Health Insurance Scheme and the country’s agriculture; it is clear already that the programme, Planting for Food and Jobs is a success, and it’s going to be an even greater success in 2018,” he said.

National Builders Corps to create jobs 

The Nations Builders Corps was announced as a government initiative in the 2018 budget which will result in the creation of about 100,000 jobs to graduates at a cost of GHc 600 million.

The focus of the initiative is to improve public service delivery in health, education, agriculture, sanitation and also drive revenue mobilization and collection.

Despite some opposition to the policy from members of the Minority in Parliament and Policy think tank, Imani Africa, the programme looks well on course to be being implemented with a minimum monthly salary of GH¢600 announced for the graduates who are employed

Free SHS and Planting for Food and Jobs 

The President also launched the Free SHS policy and Planting for Food and Jobs programme to facilitate improvements in the country’s educational and agricultural sectors.

Nana Addo stated that the Planting for Food and Jobs programme will among other things encourage the youth to desist from migrating elsewhere in search of non-existent jobs and ensure a transformation the country’s agriculture sector.

And speaking at the launch of the Free SHS policy the President said that the only way government can create wealth for all Ghanaians is to ensure that there are opportunities for them to succeed, which can be created through education.

“A government will not be able to make every citizen rich, but with political will and responsible leadership, a government can help create a society of opportunities and empowerment of every citizen. And I know no better way to do that than to improve access to education

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Foundation has been laid for jobs – Nana Addo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This was revealed at the signing of a service agreement between the Forestry Commission and the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), in which the YEA would serve as the recruitment agency for the Commission.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, signed the service agreement on behalf of his outfit, while the YEA’s CEO, Justin Kodua, also endorsed the document.

The signing, which took place at the headquarters of the Forestry Commission in Accra, had staff of both the Forestry Commission and the YEA in attendance.

Per the agreement, the YEA will commit about 44 million cedis, whilst the Forestry Commission also commits 60 million cedis towards the remuneration of the beneficiaries.

The employment is expected to span a period of two years, and will come with a monthly remuneration of Ghc400.

Speaking to Citi News, Forestry Commission CEO, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, said ‘They are going to be engaged in farming and the forest areas that we have earmarked on [populace management], others are going to be in reforestation and so and so forth. We are employing the youth; the essence is the youth because the job involves people who are a little bit stronger which is why the YEA is partnering us. After the two years, we are going to ensure that they have permanent jobs.”

“The graduates would be used for monitoring and [other tasks], but majority of those who are going to be employed would be employed on the farms. So we are going to give hope to the people who otherwise do not have certificates that people are asking them to bring here and there.  When they are employed, we will give them orientation,” he added.

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By: Michael Ogbodu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Forestry Commission to offer 15,000 jobs by January 2018 appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This, the Authority hopes, will put to an end to recent acts of vandalism by the youth who are demanding jobs from their party leadership.

Currently, there is a public outcry over the increasing spate of vigilantism by some irate youth of the NPP.

[contextly_sidebar id=”l4bUSGRwQ2VtmDfHGzK0DFcmZLVov59n”]Citi News has reported on over 2o cases of attacks by pro-NPP vigilante groups, under the Akufo-Addo government.

Some of these have been attacks on public officials and some state installations and offices across the country.

Addressing journalists on Tuesday, the Chief Executive Officer for the NYA, Emmanuel Asigri, said the move to find the rampaging youth jobs will solve the problem at hand.

“It is not an Akufo-Addo demographic. It is not an NPP demographic. It is a Ghanaian demographic requiring the impassioned contribution from all those who lead. The government’s plan to create jobs is a private sector plan. A private sector plan is an entrepreneurship plan. There is 100 million dollars with the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation plan for any ordinary young Ghanaian for this year. Entering into next year alone, we are targeting to have 70, 000 young people put on the various models of YEA. We have partnered with the District Assemblies with one of our models where we are going to train about 500 young people who will maintain street lights across the country.”

“It is on this note that we urge the young people causing disturbances and public tension at Youth Employment Agency offices, School Feeding facilities, NADMO and District Assembly offices to read the game instead of invading the pitch. Seize the moment instead of seizing office keys and unlock their potential instead of locking padlocks. Again, we at NYA want to use this opportunity to call on those who should help stop this menace, especially the Ghana Police Service led by IGP David Asante Apeatu. ”

The commitment of the Akufo-Addo government towards an end to vigilantism, has been called into question following heightened acts of violence undertaken by vigilante groups affiliated to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

In most of the instances, arrests are not made, and in the few instances of arrests, the suspects are either released later or serve lenient punishments when they are tried in court.

Critics of the government, who have questioned the party’s commitment in dealing with vigilante groups acting lawlessly in their name, were emboldened last week when another group of rampaging NPP youth, invaded a police station and freed party communicators who were in police custody.

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By: Farida Shaibu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NYA to find jobs for rampaging NPP youth appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

But he wants the process expedited because, according to him, while the government cannot fail the youth who voted massively to return the NPP to power, “time is also not on our side.”

Sammi Awuku was speaking at a presidential youth dialogue held at the Osu Castle Gardens, Friday to herald International Youth Day which falls Saturday, August 12, to be celebrated on the theme; Youth Building Peace.

In attendance were Senior Minister Yaw Osafo Maafo, who delivered the keynote address, Youth and Sports Minister Isaac Asiamah, the Chief Executive of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Emmanuel Asigri and Madam Erika Goldson, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Acting Country Representative.

“Nana Addo recognizes the mandate that the youth of our country gave him and we cannot fail the masses. I’m confident the president will deliver, but Mr. Senior Minister let’s double up because time is also not on our side”, he said to spontaneous applause by a selection of youths from all 10 regions of the country to participate in the forum.

He pointed out that unemployment today presents the biggest obstacle to youth development as well as the biggest challenge to Africa’s security and should be fought on all fronts.

Sammi Awuku explained that since the devil always finds jobs for idle hands, much of the agitations over public facilities and office seizures would not occur if many of the youth were employed.

“I want the NPP government to know that the youth voted massively for us and we also have to move beyond just the paper talk when we are solving youth unemployment. I say this because under the previous administration, it was always a fanfare when it was International Youth Day. At least today we are in the open, so we’ve moved from the air-conditioned room at the Conference Centre as it used to be, to face the reality under the sun. Today we are faced with big challenges across in terms of our youth. You have growing anxiety, and growing uncertainty. And that is why at the least provocation the youth will either seize something or misbehave.

“Whilst we always condemn and condemn in no uncertain terms, government must also lead the way in quickening the process in helping provide jobs for our teeming youth,” he said, capping the prompting with the popular refrain, “Boys abrƐ oo, boys abrƐ”.

He also called on the youth to end “the unnecessary agitations” that sometimes happen at the least provocation since it does not make the fight for youth employment any better.

“It doesn’t make us look good when we seize lorry parks or car parks. It weakens our front when we are seizing offices. In any case when you seize that office you cannot be the District Director, and if you sack that person who is occupying that office and you go to sit there, that does not mean your name is in the Controller and Accountant General’s book. So you are only occupying space.”

Sammi Awuku also cautioned the youth not to lend themselves to self-seekers who would engage them to fight proxy wars, saying “whilst we will not condone youth agitation, and whilst we also want to speak true to power, the older guys too should stop using the youth to fight proxy wars.”

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Source: Graphic Online

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The altruistic training and job placement initiative are dedicated in-depth job readiness training as well as selecting its Ideal Talent Brand Ambassadors who will be training others.

The initiative is refined and present prospective job seekers to 95 stakeholder companies for interviews during its upcoming Summit and Job fair at the Accra International Conference Center on November 22, 2017.

Speaking at the training session, the founder of SOSJOBS4WOMEN Ghana Rev. Princess Dr Ocansey said there are numerous jobs seeking prepared minds for employment and it’s their duty to produce world class labour force.

“Our focus is on the quality of our human capital, not just quantity. We want to create ideal sought-after-talent women who will consciously contribute meaningfully to their companies and to our national development” she added

As part of the drive to enhance the training processes, Director for Nekotech Center Rev Patrick Arthur superintended over a mentorship session. He indicated that university graduates are currently facing major unemployment crisis and critical attention must be paid to their enhancement.

“There is a major skill and job readiness gap our nation must quickly fix in order to start tackling the grave unemployment issues plaguing the nation, especially among our young ladies. The ladies need to be trained on how to get a job. Many came to the mock job interviews improperly dressed with poor or no CVs,”he said.

President of Groupe Ideal, Dr Nii Kotei Dzanie, as a partner said, his outfit is looking forward to hiring some of the Ideal Talent as there is always room for excellent workers.

About the partnership and training

The initiative is a partnership of Nekotech Center Royal Academy for Peace and Development and the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, Diaspora Affairs of the Office of the President, in collaboration with the Diaspora African Forum, Skill2Scale University of Calgary Canada, Transform Ghana Project and sponsored by SOS Labour Ghana and Groupe Ideal.

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By: Seidu Shieba Anass/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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