African Youth Economic Forum Opens

A three-day forum organised by African Youth and Governance has opened in Accra.

The forum that is aimed at addressing socio-economic challenges Africa faces; has the theme: �Dialogue and Mutual Understanding, Our Year, Our Voice.�

The Vice President who was represented by the Deputy Minister for Employment, Hon. Antwi Boasiako Sekyere, as Guest of Honour, indicated that though there are indicators that measure the rate of inflation, but in the case of unemployment, there is none and that hinders the nation from handling the issue of unemployment effectively.

Mr. Sekyere noted that some challenges of unemployment can be attributed to poor financial management of local businesses that most often lead to their collapse. He said the forum will seek to address such issues through the empowerment of the youth.

He disclosed that two per cent of the Consolidated Fund would be channeled to people with disability, this he hoped will serve to integrate the physically challenged into businesses as they have been ignored by society over the years.

A lecturer at Ashesi University, Dr. Lloyd Amoah in his submission, said due to the high cost of living on the continent, there are a myriad of youth without jobs.

He pointed out that the issue must not be limited to therefore called on the public to get involved whereas the problem should not be limited to the youth to tackle but everyone should get involved.

He advised that educational systems in Africa should be opened to creativity for the youth to have diverse ideas right from the beginning.

The Executive Director of African Youth Governance Mr. Seth Oteng, reiterated that the forum is aimed at equipping young people to have knowledge for employment and hopes that at the end of the forum, participants would acquire a lot of developmental ideas to move the continent forward.

In attendance were representatives from Senegal, Cote D�ivoire, Nigeria, Liberia, Kenya as well as United States of America.

Source: ISD (Abigail Addo)