Accra, May 14, GNA - The government has this year increased by nearly 50 per cent the budget allocation of the Ministry of Manpower Development, Youth and Employment to help run its programmes and activities.

"This is in recognition of the critical role that the ministry plays in the scheme of government programmes and activities" Mr Joseph Kofi Adda, the sector Minister, said on Saturday.

He said contrary to the misunderstanding that the creation of the Manpower Ministry was insignificant, leading to its previous marginalization, President John Agyekum Kufuor has kept it intact and even merged it with the Youth Ministry.

Mr Adda said this when he briefed journalists on a meeting towards institutional reform and capacity building of the ministry underway in Accra.

Representatives of the ministry's departments and agencies, non-governmental organisations as well as donor partners of the ministry including DANIDA, the International Labour Organisation and the Canadian International Development Agency are attending the meeting. It would afford participants the opportunity to deliberate on the new vision of the ministry, its programmes and areas of possible assistance that would enable the sector to function effectively. Mr Adda said the ministry, being the centre of development of all government's programmes, needed much attention and support to enable its play its role efficiently and help address the social needs of the youth and the general populace.

He said the ministry now has a new vision and new leadership to change its old image and strategies its activities to the benefit of Ghanaians.

Mr Adda announced that another stakeholders' meeting was to be organised between the 19 and 22 of May to map out strategic development agenda with its agencies and departments.