The fourth batch of the Community Protection Programme under the Youth in Community Service and Security Module of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has passed out in Accra with a call by Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, tasking them to give of their best to support the police to maintain law and order.
He also urged the newly deployed personnel, whom were taken through courses including Basic Education on Terrorism, Democratic Policing Principles, and Role of Community Protection Personnel, to use their newly acquired skills to assist the police to prevent crime.
The Vice-President gave this advice after reviewing a parade at the passing out ceremony of 934 personnel in Accra, who went through three weeks of training.
The training was held for 1,314 personnel in five centres across the country; namely, the Pwalugu, Kumasi, Tesano, Ho and Koforidua Police Training schools. Vice-President Dr Bawumia said the government was committed to creating more jobs for the youth, adding that the YEA would employ 15,000 personnel at the end of the programme.
He added that the government was on course to delivering its part of the social contract it has with the people of Ghana by creating more jobs for the youth. Dr Bawumia underscored government’s commitment to providing the enabling environment and necessary opportunities for the youth to earn a decent living while contributing their quota to national development.
“Let me reaffirm government’s commitment to building a prosperous country on the intellect, strength, and patriotism of its young generation. This government is committed to building a country great and strong for all generations,” he stressed.
“The passing out of the Community Protection personnel today only goes to enforce our commitment to solving the challenge of, and reducing of, unemployment in Ghana.”
Government, Vice-President Bawumia indicated, is also exploring other avenues for job creation to meet the growing incidence of youth unemployment, especially for graduates.
“Three days ago, His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, emphasised our government’s commitment to solving youth unemployment. The Nation Builders’ Corps (NABCO), which is set to employ some 100,000 graduates in the fields of agriculture, ICT, revenue mobilisation, healthcare delivery, education, entrepreneurship and governance, was launched in Kumasi.
“This is a major step to solving the graduate unemployment in Ghana. This intervention will mainly focus on graduates from tertiary institutions while the Youth Employment Agency takes care of the other categories of the unemployment category who are not graduates.”
Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffuor Awuah noted that the opportunity given to the Community Protection personnel reflected government’s commitment to tackling the huge unemployment situation. He said the beneficiaries would have the opportunity to serve their various communities by supporting the Ghana Police Service in maintaining law and order.
Baffuor Awuah noted that the personnel would be engaged on a two-year contract, after which some would be absorbed by the Police Service during the mainstream recruitment.
He said other unemployed youth would also get opportunity for employment through the ‘Job Centre’, a web-based and mobile application platform where employers would meet with potential employees.
He indicated the ministry was in the process of developing an artisanal directory where the country’s artisans could showcase their products to attract investors.
As part of the ceremony, four awards were presented to three outstanding trainees who excelled during the course.