President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has inaugurated the Presidential Conference on Youth in Agriculture, emphasizing the importance of Ghana’s youth embracing agriculture as a viable avenue for job creation. During the formal launch of the collaboration between the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) on the Youth in Agriculture Programme at the University of Ghana in Accra, President Akufo-Addo encouraged young Ghanaians to take advantage of the incentive packages provided by the program to venture into agriculture.
Recognizing youth unemployment as a significant challenge, the President stressed the government’s commitment to addressing it through innovative initiatives such as the Agriculture program. He called on the youth to unite around the initiative, form cooperatives, and establish partnerships to harness the benefits of the program.
With off-taker arrangements and the outlined incentive packages, the President stated that there is no excuse for young people not to engage in agriculture. He envisioned that the successful implementation of the program would increase food supply and reduce food costs in Ghana, with the hope of achieving a significant reduction in food inflation to a single-digit figure by the end of his tenure.
Hon. Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Minister of Employment, Labour Relations, and Pensions, reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to exploring various avenues to address youth unemployment, with agriculture holding significant promise in this regard. Studies have indicated that agriculture is an untapped sector with immense potential for job creation among the youth.
Mr. Kofi Baah Agyepong, the Chief Executive Officer of the YEA, encouraged Ghana’s youth interested in agriculture and emphasized that the comprehensive incentive packages aim to motivate young farmers to enter the sector, countering the stigma faced by young graduates aspiring to become farmers.
President Akufo-Addo’s call for youth involvement in agriculture underscores the government’s dedication to tackling unemployment and enhancing the nation’s food security through innovative approaches.
Source: GhanaWeb