President launches initiative to address unemployment
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday launched the national flagship program aimed at addressing the twin challenge of youth unemployment and poverty.
Christened ‘Nation Builders’ Corp’ (NABCO), the initiative seeks to create annually, 100,000 jobs for graduates to transition from school to the job market.
The scheme is an actualization of an assurance in the 2018 budget of an arrangement targeted at addressing graduate youth unemployment.
“The grim story of youth unemployment has been part of our lives for such a long time… It is important that we do things different if we are to restore hope and dignity to our youth,” President Akufo-Addo said at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi.
He noted that it was heartbreaking that year on year, graduates outstripped available jobs, which was even made worse by a ban on employment in the public sector.
Making reference to a World Bank statistics which said 48 percent of Ghanaian youth did not have jobs, the President said government was working assiduously to ensure that the economy grew rapidly to absorb the teeming youth of the country.
The NABCO, he said would have a “positive practical impact” on the citizenry and address holistically, the challenges of youth unemployment, and “enhance the dignity and self-esteem of our graduates.”
The central focus of the Scheme is to create employment opportunities for Ghanaians with Diplomas and degrees from accredited tertiary institutions, and galvanize them from the length and breadth of the country to enhance the core mandate and efficiency of both public and private institutions.
The initiative, a voluntary one, would have adequate representation from across the country. Graduates would be recruited under several modules to include, health, governance, enterprise, revenue, education, agriculture and ICT.
Those who would be recruited by the Scheme have a placement period of three years, with modest stipend of Ghc700 monthly.
Applications which have been opened would end in June. Shortlisiting of applicants would commence on July 1, 2018. And successfully applicants are to be posted to relevant institutions by August 1, 2018.
President Akufo-Addo was optimistic that the initiative would prepare graduate adequately for the labour market and enhance their career path in the long run.
To those who would benefit from the initiative, he told them to abide by the Scheme’s core values of integrity, professionalism, hard work, patriotism, and good customer relations.
“This program is yours, own it,” he admonished.
The Scheme can be accessed electronically on www.nabco.government.gh
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Nana Otuo Sereboe, Chairman of the Council of State, Ministers of state, parliamentarian, senior government officials and party chieftains witnessed the launch of the program.
Source: GNA