Kumasi, May 19, GNA - Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Out-going Ashanti Regional Minister on Thursday asked Youth Employment Co-ordinators, Metropolitan, Municipal and District assemblies not to politicise the National Youth Job Creation Programme but work hard to assist in creating employment for the youth.

Mr Boafo made the call when addressing the opening session of a two-day orientation workshop for co-ordinators of the programme in Ashanti region in Kumasi.

Metropolitan, Municipal, District Chief Executives and Finance Officers from the assemblies are also attending the workshop designed to equip participants with the requisite skills and knowledge to ensure its smooth implementation.

Mr Boafo said the Ministry of Manpower Development, Youth and Employment had the responsibility to ensure success of the programme and would endeavour to build the capacity of the youth and create the enabling environment for job creation and wealth generation. He appealed to the youth to take advantage of the programme to improve on their social status.

Mr Anthony Lindsay Hagan, a Facilitator of the programme said it was to address the problem of unemployment within the context of the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS II) and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

He urged the participants and stakeholders to support and co-operate for the success of the programme. Mr Kwaku Adu-Mensah, also a Facilitator of the programme, said the three-year programme was of two phases.

He said the first phase which begun this year would include youth in agriculture programmes, community education, auxiliary health assistance, community protection units, Community Waste and Sanitation programmes, internship and industrial attachment programmes.