Government is determined to train and empower cadets of young Ghanaians in alternative livelihoods programmes to help eradicate the illegal mining scourge.
“If you tell the young people to stop illegal mining, then there must be alternative jobs for them to do.
“And so, I believe the work of the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme for Illegal Miners (NAELP) is very critical towards achieving the government’s vision of job creation,” Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, said during a working visit to the NAELP head office in Accra on Tuesday.
The Minister pledged to support the activities of NAELP in community apprenticeship and skill training in agribusiness, poultry farming, growing of vegetables, wielding and fabrication amongst others.
The Minister gave the assurance that despite the budgetary constraints his outfit would work-out public-private partnership to source support towards implementing the activities of NAELP.
Mr Buah also promised to work in harmony with the Ministry of Finance to settle employees’ salary arrears and GHS105 million owing contractors.
Mr Frank Asare, the National Coordinator of the NAELP, said the Programme had given out start-up equipment to 127 trainees in Obuasi this year and would train over 500 youth in community apprenticeship and skills training in wielding and fabrication, electronic and electricals, and hairdressing.
GNA
