08-01-14
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| Reg GJA Chair, (left), PNC Gen Sec,Mr Monarh(middle) |
Government has been implored to free the
youth of poverty by creating the needed employment opportunities for the teeming
unemployed youth in the country, particularly, Northern Ghana. Education on the
other hand should be given a major facelift and made to benefit majority of
Ghanaians. Speaking at the opening of the first ever International Youth
Network Summit in Bolgatanga, the General Secretary of the People’s National
Convention, Bernard Monarh observed that the youth have become ‘stone throwers
and brief case carriers’ with majority wallowing in abject poverty. This
notwithstanding has compelled the youth to engage in all sort of illegal
activities. The youth he moreover stated are the leaders of tomorrow, therefore
efforts must be made to ensure their wellbeing and more importantly help them
assume their rightful place in the society. Mr Monarh said poverty among the
larger populace could only be tackled when is urged to champion the cause of
the youth especially in the area of education. According to him, Northern Ghana
is still struggling to come out of poverty due to lack of education and
unemployment. He said in view of the unfortunate situation, coupled with lack
of development and deprivation, it was incumbent on government to channel the chunk of its resources and
proceeds to benefit the people of the
north and also create a window of job opportunities for the youth. Moreover
collapsed and defunct local industries, notably, Northern Star Tomato Factory,
formerly Pwalugu Tomato factory, the Bolgatanga meat factory and the Nasia Rice
factory should also be revived to create employment for majority of the youth. The Regional GJA Chairman Mr Eric
Amo for his part called for comprehensive and workable youth policy that can
see to the total development of the youth. He said with such a policy in place,
the youth can identify their strength and weaknesses and work on them to
achieve their aim and aspirations. Poor leadership, he bemoaned was one of the
major cause of poverty among the youth and charge those at the helm of affairs
to exhibit good leadership qualities for the youth to emulate. The Regional
Director of the National Youth Authority, Mr D. J Abang-Gos entreated the youth
to refrain from activities that have the tendency of jeopardizing their future
career but rather concentrate on their studies. He encouraged them to be
conversant with the existing National Youth Policy and see it as a policy
guideline necessary tom direct their course.
The maiden youth network summit which slated to be climaxed on January
8, 2014 is on the theme: ‘Strengthening and Accelerating Youth Empowerment for
Sustainable Development. It is being spearheaded by the Youth Network for
Societal Transformation with support from other sister networks across the
country including the National Youth Authority and the Upper East Regional
Coordinating Council (RCC). It brought to fore the need for government to
review and pass the National Youth Bill into law.
GBC
END
IA/
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