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.
Speaking at the formal launch of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) collaboration on the Youth in Agriculture Programme at the University of Ghana in Accra, President Akufo-Addo encouraged young Ghanaians to seize the incentive packages provided by the program to venture into agriculture.
He acknowledged that youth unemployment is a significant challenge for the nation and stressed the government’s commitment to addressing it through innovative initiatives like the Agriculture program. President Akufo-Addo urged the youth to unite around the initiative, form cooperatives, and establish partnerships to harness the program’s benefits.
The President highlighted that with the off-taker arrangement and the incentive packages outlined in the initiative, there is no excuse for young people not to engage in agriculture. He envisioned that successful implementation of the program could lead to an increase in food supply and a reduction in food costs in Ghana. He expressed hope that Ghana would witness a significant reduction in food inflation to a single-digit figure by the end of his tenure in office.
Hon. Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Minister of Employment, Labour Relations, and Pensions, echoed the commitment of the Ministry to explore diverse avenues to address youth unemployment, with agriculture holding significant promise in this regard. He noted that 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. He emphasized that the comprehensive incentive packages aim to motivate young farmers to venture into agriculture and combat the stigma faced by young graduates aspiring to enter the farming sector.
The call by President Akufo-Addo to the youth to venture into agriculture underscores the government’s dedication to tackling unemployment and enhancing the nation’s food security through innovative approaches.
Source: Adoma Odoom, Contributor