Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Haruna Idrisu, confirmed that government has so far received 50,000 applications for the Youth Employment Module.

Government has set a target of recruiting 100,000 personnel into the Youth Employment Module in 2016, and lauded efforts of the Youth Employment Agency in its drive to support government in curbing the country’s rising unemployment.

“Mr. Speaker, I am happy to inform you that for only one module we have received applications in the region of 50,000; just for one category of young people who want to be recruited. It testifies to the existing unemployment gap that affects young people,” he said.

“The problem we are dealing with in Ghana now is skills-mismatch, and skills non-availability. The fact is that many of our training institutions are not adequately funded, particularly those dedicated to providing technical and vocational training in the country,”

Mr. Idrissu said the National Security Council has raised an alert on the unemployment situation in the country and its implications for national security.

He said the unemployment situation has contributed to the rising incidence of crime in the country, and that to address the situation government will have to offer 100,000 jobs to the youth through Youth Employment Agency (YEA) employment modules this year.

He said there is a huge demand for jobs under the modules, indicating that the ministry has rolled out modules for prisons, community service, sanitation and youth in environment.

“I have asked them to advertise for youth in agribusiness, targetting the cashew sector. We will not involve too much of the private sector. Payment of beneficiaries will be done by the Agency. I have also requested that they develop an enhanced payroll system so that we can keep track to avoid multiple employment for our young people.”

Mr. Idrissu told Parliament that Minister of Finance Mr. Seth Terkper and the Head of the EU Delegation will sign the agreement this week.

He said the signing will ensure early disbursement of the fund to support technical and vocational training in the country.

The European Union (EU) Delegation in Ghana is to extend a €31million grant to Ghana for funding labour environment assessments, as well as technical and vocational training for the youth.

Furthermore, Mr. Idrissu said, the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) will benefit from a GH?10million grant from the YEA this year to support training for over 6,000 master craftsmen in masonry, carpentry and fabrication.

He said he had issued a policy directive to the YEA to begin partnering public institutions to intensify skills-training for the youth.