Deputy Minister of Finance Highlights Efforts to Address Unemployment
The Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. John Kumah, has announced that the government collected GH¢1.19 billion in revenue from the E-levy in 2023. These funds have been allocated to various programs aimed at combating unemployment in the country.
Dr. Kumah made these remarks in response to the Ghana Statistical Service’s report indicating that over 1.5 million Ghanaian youth are unemployed. He highlighted that the government has committed funds from the E-levy to its YouStart Program, the Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA), and the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) to address the job situation.
Speaking at the media launch of the Wealth and Jobs Expo Ghana, Dr. Kumah emphasized the government’s efforts to attract investments and spur job creation. He stressed the importance of believing in entrepreneurship to address the unemployment rate.
“In the medium term, government aims to intensify efforts to attract domestic investments and Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) in strategic centers with emphasis on creating jobs anchored on the government’s growth strategy. The strategy is projected to contribute to the creation of approximately 500,000 jobs,” Dr. Kumah explained.
He further highlighted that even if only 10% of the unemployed youth become entrepreneurs, it would result in the creation of 150,000 jobs, significantly addressing the unemployment problem in the country.