Winneba, June 10, GNA - The Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, has stressed the government's commitment to support the private sector to help expand the economy to create jobs for the youth. The government had introduced various micro-finance schemes and a capital fund with flexible terms for small and medium scale enterprises and to provide long term finance for the sector.

Nana Arthur was speaking at the third Biennial Na tional Conference of the Ghana Methodist Students Union (GHAMSU), at Winneba on Friday. He said one major problem facing the youth was lack of employment since the economy had not expanded enough to absorb all the products of tertiary institutions.

The Central Regional Minister pointed out that when businesses got the requisite financial support that the government was giving they would expand and employ more youth.

Nana Arthur stated that the Presidential Special Initiative (PSI) was set up to create an environment to promote businesses to offer employment especially for the youth.

The Minister urged the youth to take advantage of the numerous programmes and policies that the government has put in place to curb the rising unemployment.

Nana Arthur said the capitation grant had increased enrolment and relieved many parents, adding that, the government was working around the clock to provide furniture, books, and teachers to promote education.

He said that the government initiated the National Health Insurance Scheme to enable the people especially the vulnerable to have access to affordable and quality health care and urged the students to educate their colleagues and the public to register.

The Regional Minister stated that despite the proliferation of Churches, the nation was still grappling with the problem of indiscipline, corruption and lawlessness.

He appealed to the Churches to rededicate their efforts to fight the social canker.

Professor Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), advised members of GHAMSU not to concentrate on religious matters only, but should be interested with contemporary issues in the society such as pre-marital sex, promiscuity, examination malpractices, drug abuse and indecent dressing among students.

He suggested that GHAMSU should establish anti-immoral sensitisation clubs to educate the youth on negative social vices including indiscipline to enhance efforts aimed at nation building.