The Youth Employment Agency has started the implementation of the Business and Employment Assistance Programme (BEAP) aimed at helping employers to re-hire laid-off employees, hire new employees, and connect with the YEA Job Centre job applicants looking for work experience and job opportunities.
At a press conference in Wa today January 10, 2024, the Public Relations Officer of the Agency, Mr. Awal Mohammed, indicated that the BEAP will offer an opportunity to employers by providing up to GHC500 support monthly to businesses per employee. This he said will help reduce the salary burden on employers since Ghana is still recovering from the COVID 19 shock.
“This will also provide pre-employment and work readiness training to beneficiaries to enhance their skills and development. It will also provide recruitment assistance to support beneficiary business with the recruitment and selection of the youth”, he added.
For business who are qualified to apply for the support, Mr. Awal said “you must demonstrate that your business is registered with proven record of having all applicable legislation including, but not limited to, tax obligations and payment of SSNIT”.
He added that the employer must also demonstrate the ability to co-pay beneficiary compensation.
It would be recalled that this programme was launched last year by the Vice President, Dr. Mahamud Bawumia, where he indicated that some businesses are still struggling to fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic despite the many initiatives rolled out by the government. And, thus, underscored the need for all available assistance to help them get back on their feet.
He had posited that, some associated problems businesses face still exist – including financial distress, the increase in youth unemployment and chronically low wages, hence the birth of the YEA’s Business and Employment Assistance Programme.
“This initiative aims at assisting employers to re-employ laid-off workers and retain existing employees by providing a maximum of GH¢500 per employee as salary support.” Dr. Bawumia stated, adding that this initiative will provide relief to the Ghanaian youth.
He highlighted the importance of the youth, saying that “the youth of this country are our greatest resource, and it is our collective duty to ensure they are well-positioned to make significant contributions in the economic development of our dear nation”.
Dr. Bawumia also averred that President Akufo-Addo’s government has implemented several youth-focused initiatives specifically seeking to address the challenges faced by Ghanaian youth.
“The YouStart programme, one of such government initiatives, was successfully piloted with 70 beneficiaries and an amount of GH¢1.98million disbursed to support youth-led (below the age of 40 years) SMEs. This initiative will be further augmented to effectively assist more youth-led businesses in the coming years.”
The Vice President pointed out that government is very much aware of their complaints and concerns, and very committed to creating a favourable business environment for existing and emerging businesses.
