National Employment Policy In The Offing

The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations says it would soon present a Draft National Employment Policy to Cabinet for approval. The policy, aimed at providing job opportunities aimed to reduce youth unemployment will among other things, contain strategies that offers quality education, skills development and training to enable them to be self dependent. Nii Armah Ashietey, the sector Minister disclosed this at the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Programme Annual Learning Summit in Accra. The MasterCard foundation scholars program is a $500 million, 10-year initiative to educate and prepare young people in developing countries including Africa to lead change and make a positive social impact in their communities. The summit which was on the theme �Enhancing Educational Opportunities: The Role of Partners,� sought to provide opportunities for young girls in deprived communities. In addition, he said the policy intends to create functional labour market information that links job-seekers to potential employers and job opportunities. He said the government remained resolute in its quest to address unemployment, adding that the policy targets the youth particularly women and girls. While commending Camfed and MasterCard for their contributions towards girl-child education, Nii Ashietey encouraged them to invest in ICT education and training to build the capacities of girls in that area. Describing the theme as timely and appropriate, the Minister said that it was in line with the government�s developmental objectives of providing quality education to the youth. He said the ministry was collaborating with organizations to provide practical solutions that confront young people. He mentioned the Integrated community Centers for Employable Skills (ICCES) and Industrialization Centers (OIC) under the National Vocational Training Institute as some programme introduced by the government to provide vocational and technical education to the youth, particularly the less privileged. Mrs. Dolores Dickson, Executive Director of Camfed Ghana said the key objectives of the MasterCard foundation scholars program are to raise social, political and business leaders for the African continent. She said young people particularly girls in rural communities are not given equal access to education, saying that made it impossible for them to unearth their full potentials. She said the programme offered an opportunity to brilliant but needy girls from rural communities to have access to formal education. Mrs. Dickson said the scholars program also provides a network for educators at second cycle schools and universities who share the objective of inclusive, equitable and high quality education. She urged stakeholders to provide an opportunity for the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service, among others to discuss issues that will enhance quality secondary tertiary education in Ghana. Chris Thornley Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana encouraged civil societies empower young girls finally realize their dreams and become responsible citizens to their communities.