Accra, Oct. 29, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Friday said Government was committed to transform the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) through comprehensive sustainable policies that would create real employment for the youth.

In a speech read on his behalf by Ms Akua Sena Dansua, Minister of Youth and Sports, at the launch of the Exit Plans of the NYEP modules in Accra, Vice President Mahama said the government had put in place policy initiatives to address the long-term job needs of the youth through private and public sector programmes.

The modules are aimed at eradicating poverty and registering remarkable socio-economic development.

The Vice President said the World Bank, was ready to support the various initiatives with 65 million dollars, and recommended a collaborative strategy for establishing a Youth Employment and Development Fund, a model the Bank already supports in Kenya, Uganda, South Africa and Malawi.

He said the Fund would be established to create employment for the youth through investment attraction, enterprise development and structured labour development and trade. He added that the greatest indicator of government's commitment to the NYEP effort was the decision by Cabinet to increase the allocation of the Communication Service Tax to the NYEP from 20 per cent to 60 per cent.

Vice President Mahama said the NYEP had provided jobs to more than 100,000 youth across the country. He said the health sector, which was suffering from brain-drain, with many nurses emigrating for more rewarding jobs abroad, had benefited from the Health Assistants module.

The Vice President further stated that the Community Protection Assistance Module had contributed greatly by supporting the Ghana Police Service to secure the society against criminal activities. He said the exit plan would provide a road map for the progress of the NYEP to deal with challenges and serve as guidance for the way forward.

Vice President Mahama called on development partners, Non-Governmental Organizations and the public to support the NYEP in the empowerment of all young people through enhanced collaboration and partnership. Dr. Saibu Gariba, Director General, Management Development Productivity Institute (MDPI), said his outfit was pleased to collaborate with Goodwill International Group and the NYEP to provide short-term hands on competency-based training to the beneficiaries of paid internship. He urged the youth to promote and develop improved consciousness of the value of leading productive lives and work hard to improve productivity. 29 Oct. 10