Accra, Sept. 6 GNA - African Governments have resolved to formulate and pursue national policies and programmes to create employment for the youth and persons with disabilities, Mr Joe Gidisu, Minister of Roads and Highways has said.

This, he said, would help curb poverty as well as create job opportunity for the youth through national, sectoral and local investment strategies and programmes.

Mr Gidisu said this at the Ministerial roundtable of the on- going 14th International Labour Organisation (ILO) Regional Seminar for labour-based practitioners and policy makers in Accra on Tuesday.

It is on the theme: “Public works for decent jobs and poverty reduction: policies and practices.”

The Seminar organised by the Ministry of Roads and Highways in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Ministry of Transport, Public Works Department as well as labour movements across Africa, aimed at addressing issues confronting the road sector as well as the youth.

Mr Gidisu reiterated the efforts of Government to give priority to the application of labour-based Technology (LBT) methods by designating intuitions to put in place clear guidance and procurement systems for the works, goods and service delivery in Ghana.

He said government had revamped the LBT programme in road construction and was in the process of embarking on initiatives to make it sustainable for the youth.

The concept of LBT was hinged on the promotion of labour, rather than machines to undertake projects with the view to reduce cost, create more jobs and reduce poverty.

About 400 labour based practitioners, policy makers, researchers would be sharing ideas and experiences on LBT during the seminar.

He said the impact of unemployment; underemployment and poverty among the youth pose social threats thus requiring all partners to help resolve the issue.

The Minister said the seminar agreed to strengthen and promote data collection, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, employment impact assessments with the view of improving the knowledge base on strategies, procedures and processes that could generate and sustain productive employment opportunities.

He said the seminar also resolved to promote, develop and advocated operational strategies and capacities, increase investments and budgetary allocation to programmes and projects that optimise the use of appropriate resources as well as strengthen regional partnership among African countries in building capacities in LBT.

The Executive Director of ILO Employment Sector, Mr Jose Manuel Salazar-Xirimachs said, labour-intensive investments in infrastructure was one of the major tools confronting policy makers and gave the assurance that those grievances would be adhered.

The Executive Director urged the private sector to collaborate with the public sector governments to create more jobs for the youth