NBU project reduce unemployment rate at Asokore Mampong Municipality

No Business as Usual (NBU), an European Union sponsored project is currently in a full swing at Asokore Mampong Municipality to help reduce to the barest minimum the high rate of unemployment among the youth in the area.

The municipality which is burdened with a large number of migrant youth who are in search of employment due to limited job opportunities is witnessing a relieve since the start of the NBU Project.

NBU project since its implementation for a year now has been able to assist 80 youth within the municipality.

According to implementers of the project, 8 youths in the month of June 2018 through the execution of the project were given an internship service whiles other two were gainfully employed in reputable institutions.

The project according to the leadership is anticipated to reach out to at least 500 unemployed youth within the municipality in the space of four years as part of their efforts in stimulating youth employment and inclusive socio-economic growth in the area.

Speaking to THE PRESS RADIO during a two-day training program for Civil Society Organizations, the Project Manager for NBU Mr. Daniel Okity Boamah brought to notice that the NBU project covers a period of four years and hopes to be replicated in other municipalities and districts after its successful completion at Asokore Mampong Municipality.

youth by equipping them with employable skills and entrepreneurship training so that they will be able to create a job of their own.

 He underlined the municipality as a case study for the project since it is workforce dominated (huge proportion of the population are within the working age) and has a good implication for socio-economic burden displacement.

Major implementing partners of the project he disclosed as; SOS Children’s Villages Netherlands (SOS-CV/NL), Asokore Mampong Municipal Assembly and the SOS Villages, Ghana (SOS CV/NL) and aims at promoting local economic development and youth employability in the municipality.

Mr. Daniel Okity Boamah indicated the target of the project as largely youth mostly from disadvantaged backgrounds, including vulnerable groups, marginalized females and the disabled aged between 15 and 35 years. The project started in the month of March 2017 and is expected to be completed by the end of February 2021.

According to him, NBU Project synchronizes with government of Ghana’s developmental agenda to facilitate industrialization action by launching enterprises to create more jobs and ensure an increase in government’s revenue mobilization to finance development, ensure equality by creating opportunities for people from disadvantaged backgrounds among others.

 TRAINING PROGRAM

The training program sought to empower members of Civil Society Organizations and staff of the municipal assembly on budget tracking and other concepts of public financial management.

CONNECTED THINKING EVENT

Aside the forgoing capacity building program, a section of the youth within the

municipality were taken through a two-day ICT education under a program called “CONNECTED THINKING” and were furnished with a deeper insight in blogging.

 Participants were offered opportunity to discuss and understand the importance of blogging, opportunities available in blogging and were made to sign up and create their blog account.

The purpose was to provide opportunity for participants to strengthen their online presence as a means of their social capital that can be leveraged upon and highlight the importance of blogging as a tool for demanding change from higher authorities.

Source: www.thepressradio.com / Enock Akonnor