The application portal for the You Start Ghana Jobs and Skills Project has been opened.
The project is targeted at funding up to 50, 000 individuals from 50 to 1000 groups with no collateral required.
The program is to help address unemployment amongst the youth between the games of 18 and 40 years. Selected young people will be offered training, access to the market, other business support services and capital to enable their businesses to grow and expand.
Speaking at the launch of the program as well as the opening in Accra, Minister of Finance in a message delivered on his behalf by Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr John Kumah said, unemployment amongst Ghanaian youth has increased significantly post Covid-19 pandemic thus posing a threat to national security and economic stability.
He indicated that there is a need to support the private sector to create needed jobs.
He noted that economic restoration, therefore, requires that things are done differently to ensure no one is left out.
World Bank Country Director Pierre Laporte while commending Ghana for the initiative said it has come at an opportune time to contribute to addressing the country’s youth unemployment challenge.
He called for transparency in the implementation of the program to ensure success.
“The YouStart program is coming at a good time to contribute to address this youth unemployment challenge. The success of the Youstart program will depend largely on the diligence and transparency implementation of the program,” He said.
He called on the implementation partners such as the Ministry of Finance, Secretariat of You Start, GEA and other stakeholders to be open to feedback during implementation.
