Accra, Aug. 12, GNA - Nana Akomea, Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, on Tuesday announced government's intention to establish a National Youth Enterprise Fund to support youth in entrepreneurial skills.

He said the proposal, which would soon be presented to Cabinet, was among other initiatives to facilitate youth agenda in national development.

Nana Akomea made this known in Accra at the International Youth Day celebration organised by the Federation of Youth Associations of Ghana (FEDYAG). The International Youth Day celebrated on August 12, each year was declared by the United Nations to recognize the potential of the youth, celebrate their achievements and plan for better ways to engage them in nation building. The Minister indicated that the Ministry had also finished the final draft of the long awaited National Youth Policy and had developed its Action Plan for Cabinet's approval to get legal backing to better streamline youth participation in national development. He therefore assured the youth of government's commitment to promote their interests, especially in the creation of jobs and expressed optimism that the economy would further accelerate to realize this feat.

Touching on the theme for the celebration: "Climate Change, Youth Action Now", Nana Akomea challenged the youth to champion the campaign for change of attitudes that adversely affected the environment, bearing in mind their effects on health.

He said it was also alarming that within a century, Ghana had lost about 80 per cent of its forest reserves as a result of deforestation, adding that the active involvement of the youth would go a long way to reverse the trend.

Mr Lester Ohemeng, Public Relations Officer of FEDYAG, called on the Vehicle and Licensing Division (VELD) to strengthen its examination processes in order to prohibit vehicles likely to pollute the environment from plying on roads.

He also urged government to encourage the use of environmentally friendly technologies such as biotechnology and to give incentives to industries that adopted innovative ways in managing emissions. Mr Ohemeng also charged district assemblies to educate residents on the environment to forestall the global warming threat. Mr Jonathan Osei-Owusu, Second Vice President of FEDYAG, also advised the youth to take advantage of all the technologies and facilities at their disposal to help transform society. Mr Frank Agyekum, Deputy Minister of Information and National Orientation, who launched an annual lecture programme by FEDYAG dubbed "Youth Speaks" to articulate youth concerns urged them to make good use of the political stability the country was enjoying and reposition themselves to benefit fully in the oil resource.