Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has launched a new initiative to support the youth and small-scale enterprises in Ghana. The Business and Employment Assistance Programme (BEAP) aims to create 20,000 jobs and benefit 10,000 businesses across various sectors.
The launch took place on Monday, December 11, 2023, at the Eusbett Hotel in Sunyani, Bono Region. Dr Bawumia said the program was a strategic response to the economic challenges posed by the global pandemic, which had affected many businesses and workers in the country.
“Over the next year, an estimated 10,000 medium and small-scale enterprises across various sectors are set to benefit from this program,” he said. “Additionally, 20,000 Ghanaian youth will benefit from the implementation of this initiative, this is big, and I am particularly excited about the relief this initiative will provide to the Ghanaian youth.”
According to Dr Bawumia, the government had allocated GH¢120 million for the implementation of BEAP, out of which GH¢60 million had already been released. He said the program would provide salary support to newly hired employees in small businesses and medium-scale enterprises, as well as skills training and mentorship.
He said the program would also help to revive and expand businesses that had been affected by the pandemic and enable them to rehire laid-off workers or employ new ones. He said the beneficiaries would receive a monthly allowance of GH¢ 500 as a top-up to their regular salary for one year.
Dr Bawumia said the program was part of the government’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Programme, which aimed to rejuvenate the economy and create more opportunities for the people. He said the government was committed to supporting the private sector and the youth to overcome the challenges and thrive in the post-pandemic era.
He urged the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), which is spearheading the implementation of BEAP, to ensure transparency and accountability in the selection and monitoring of the beneficiaries. He also called on the stakeholders, including the business associations and the media, to collaborate with the YEA to make the program a success.
The Chief Executive Officer of YEA, Mr Kofi Agyepong, said the agency had already engaged with various stakeholders in five regions to gather insights and feedback for the effective implementation of BEAP. He said the agency would soon open an online portal for interested applicants to register and apply for the program.
He said the agency would also conduct due diligence and verification processes to ensure that only eligible and deserving applicants benefited from the program. He said the agency’s vision was to create more decent jobs and contribute significantly to reducing youth unemployment in Ghana.
The launch of BEAP was attended by several dignitaries, including the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Bono Regional Minister, Mrs. Evelyn Ama Kumi-Richardson, and the Paramount Chief of Sunyani Traditional Area, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II.
The program was also graced by representatives of various business and industry associations, such as the Association of Ghana Industries, the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ghana Union of Traders Association, and the Ghana National Association of Garages.
The launch of BEAP comes at a time when Ghana is facing a high rate of youth unemployment, which stood at 12.6% in 2020, according to the Ghana Statistical Service. The pandemic has worsened the situation, as many businesses have been forced to close down or reduce their operations, leading to job losses and income reduction.
The program is expected to provide some relief and hope to the youth and the business community, as well as boost the economic recovery and growth of the country.
Source: GhanaWeb