YEE global forum ends in Accra
This year’s Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship (YEE) Global Forum aimed at promoting entrepreneurship among African youth and tackling unemployment has ended in Accra.
The two-day event was organised by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation as part of its European Union-funded, Boosting Green Employment and Enterprise Opportunities in Ghana (GrEEn) Project in the Greater Accra Region.
It was held on the theme “Building Partnerships for Inclusive and Sustainable Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship in Green and Emerging Sectors.”
The event brought together young people from about 10 African countries to share ideas on job opportunities within several sectors including agriculture, production and manufacturing.
It was also aimed at contributing to the policy environment needed for jobs creation in Africa through sharing evidence and research results while providing networking opportunities to promote partnerships between young people.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on Tuesday, the SNV Country Director, Barbara White Nkoala, said they were delighted to hold the forum to provide an opportunity for all stakeholders, government, development partners and the youth to come together and share experiences and recommendations to foster economic growth.
“It is arguably the best way to support youth employment and enterprise as we continue to work in partnership with the government through the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, Local Government and Rural Affairs and other stakeholders committed to youth development,” she stressed.
Mr Nkoala said the organisation was currently working on the Green Jobs Strategy with the government and urged all stakeholders to get on board to achieve the desired results.
”We need a collaborative effort to ensure that the goal of the forum is achieved. The Green Project has been operating for four years and it is important to invest into the area. We have listened to the youth and committed to addressing their challenges,” she stated.
On his part, Mr Ernest Berko, the Deputy Director for Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, said the Green initiative was essentially following the devastating effect of climate change on the environment.
With the Green Job Strategy, he said, the government would help maximise job creation potentials and minimise the effects of losing jobs courtesy climate change.
“We are working with partners to create more opportunities for jobs as we scale through the green economy that demands particular professionals,” he added.
Mr Berko who doubles as coordinator for the Ghana Green Jobs Strategy said they would ensure that young people create jobs to employ others.
BY MICHAEL D. ABAYATEYE
