Government is to launch a GH₡ 10 million youth enterprise business fund to provide access to business financing for young people, who wish to engage in entrepreneurship.
The fund will provide seed capital to address funding frustrations of young people and local businesses.
President John Dramani Mahama made these known at the second edition of the Head of State Award Gala and the eleventh Gold Awards ceremony on the theme: ��Celebrating the contribution of corporate institutions to youth development� in Accra.
In all thirty-seven young people were awarded with the National Gold Awards, whilst eleven other individuals were also Awarded for dedicated service, with three corporate institutions receiving the partners in youth development Awards.
He said the fund would also ease the burden on job seekers and first time young business men and women.
President Mahama said through the fund, young people could now access capital to establish and expand their businesses.
He said it was commendable to see some corporate institutions focusing their activities on youth development in the country.
He noted that the country needs more corporate institutions to support the Awards scheme for more young people to be equipped to develop their communities as responsible citizens.
He called on corporate institutions to consider youth development as a mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility to equip young people with the necessary skills.
The President said government believed that investing in young people was the best investment the country could give them.
�We have managed to create employment for over 20,000 youth nationwide, since government assumed office in 2009,� he added.
President Mahama encouraged the Awardees to reach out to their peers in the communities to enable them to also cultivate the positive attitude towards development and values.
Mr Peter Akai Anum, Executive Director, Head of State Awards, said the medals are presented to deserving young people, who have dedicated their time over a period of 12-18 month.
He said it was important for the youth to have the skills and confidence to tackle challenges in their lives, and be imbued with the values to become good citizens contributing to the society.
He said as a non-formal educational framework, the Awards programme helps young people to develop their character and grow into all-round individuals.
�Participants of the Awards programme learn and express values of care, perseverance, resilience, respect and responsibility,� he added.
He expressed the hope that the programme in Ghana would continue to play a vital role in the sub-region and the world at large in terms of impact and best practices.
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