Government reaffirms commitment to youth training in alternative livelihoods to address illegal mining
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has reiterated the government’s dedication to providing young Ghanaians with practical skills through the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP) as part of efforts to combat illegal mining.
During a working visit to the NAELP Head Office in Accra on Tuesday, Mr. Buah stressed that the battle against illegal mining, or galamsey, cannot be successful without offering sustainable job alternatives for the youth.
“If you tell young people to stop illegal mining, then there must be alternative jobs for them to do. That’s why NAELP’s work is critical to government’s broader vision of job creation,” the Minister stated.
Mr. Buah expressed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting NAELP’s training initiatives in areas such as agribusiness, poultry farming, vegetable cultivation, welding, and fabrication. He also assured that, despite existing budget constraints, the Ministry will seek public-private partnerships to secure funding for the continued execution of the program.
He also pledged to work with the Ministry of Finance to address the outstanding salary arrears for NAELP employees and resolve the GHS105 million debt owed to contractors.
Mr. Frank Asare, National Coordinator of NAELP, shared that the program had already provided start-up equipment to 127 trainees in Obuasi this year. He also noted that over 500 youth would benefit from upcoming training in welding, electronics, electricals, and hairdressing in the coming months.
The minister’s visit is part of a renewed effort to make alternative livelihoods a viable option for young people in mining communities and a key component of the national strategy to eradicate illegal mining.
