Executive Director of policy think tank Institute for Liberty and Policy Innovation (ILAPI), Peter Bismark Kwofie has opined that the YouStart initiative introduced by the government will have no impact on the economy.
He argued that the Nation Builders Corps which was introduced to solve the graduate unemployment situation had no impact on the economy.
To him, youth employment is not just about paying monthly stipends but rather providing a holistic environment for job creation.
He insisted that all these initiatives are for vote buying and have no impact on the economy nor does it have any means to resolve the unemployment situation in the country.
His comment comes after Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta announced on Monday, July 25, 2022, that the NABCO will end on September 1, 2022 hence beneficiaries should take advantage of the YouStart initiative.
Delivering the mid-year budget review, the Minister said ”Mr. Speaker, our iconic National Builder’s Corps (NaBCo) programme, which was initially to run for three years and extended for an additional year, will be completed by 1st September, 2022.
The Programme- which engaged a 100,000 young graduates, has prepared thousands of them for the world of work. So far we have invested approximately GH¢2.2 billion. As they exit, the current cohort on the programme are encouraged to take advantage of the YouStart initiative and other existing programmes in our drive to Build an Entrepreneurial Nation.
But Mr. Kwofie believes the new initiative will make no impact.
He wrote “If NABCO did not have an impact on employment and growth of the economy, what can YouStart do?
Youth Employment is not about government having more money to pay for stipends and trainings but ensuring the right holistic job environment is provided.
With the emergence of E-levy and other taxes how does that affect job creation? Taxation should be redefined to facilitate business transitions and growth of businesses for job creation. It’s the only antidote to job creation.
Because such employment interventions have intentions for vote buying, all government youth employment programs have never achieved the policy intents. Government youth employment and skill development programs have wasted the time of the youths adding to poverty because , half way into the implementation of the programs, there become more challenges that put the program on its knees.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
