Accra: 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,' stated Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, during a working visit to the NAELP head office in Accra on Tuesday.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Minister emphasized the importance of the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme for Illegal Miners (NAELP) in achieving the government's vision of job creation. He pledged to support NAELP's initiatives, which include community apprenticeship and skill training in agribusiness, poultry farming, vegetable growing, wielding, and fabrication among others.
Despite budgetary constraints, Mr Buah assured that his ministry would explore public-private partnerships to support the implementation of NAELP's activities. He also committed to collaborating with the Ministry of Finance to address the outstanding salary arrears of employees and the GHS105 million owed to contractors.
Mr Frank Asare, the National Coordinator of the NAELP, shared that the programme has already provided start-up equipment to 127 trainees in Obuasi this year. NAELP plans to train over 500 youth in community apprenticeship and skills training in fields such as wielding and fabrication, electronics and electricals, and hairdressing.