The Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, has stressed the need for industry players to think holistically to change the trajectory and adopt ways to build blocks for systems that will transform the local industries.
He said one of the major reasons why there should be the need to build blocks for systems change to transform industries was global recession.
According to the minister, global recession such as the outbreak of the COVID-19 had slowed down many economic businesses, which had resulted in a high cost of living, cut down on people’s spending thereby affecting the informal sector immensely.
Mr Baffour-Awuah disclosed this in a speech read on his behalf by his Deputy, MrBright Wireko-Brobby, during the third edition of Design and Technology Institute’s (DTI) annual Precision Quality conference in Accra yesterday.
The conference which was in collaboration with the National Development Planning Committee (NDPC) was on the theme; “The Precision Quality Policy Framework: A building block for systems change and industrial transformation.”
It aimed to deliberate on and issue the Accra Manifesto on Skills and Jobs for Africa’s Youth to signal the urgency of the unemployment problem in Ghana, and Africa and how Precision Quality offers a realistic approach for skills development and job creation.
MrBaffour-Awuah said the informal sector produced and provided sources of livelihood and economic opportunities unavailable in the formal sector therefore there was the need to adequately support them to reduce the unemployment rate in the country.
He commended DTI on their achievements over the few periods, and assured the government’s commitment to partnering with the informal sector to develop, help build a stronger and a resourced nation.
The Chief Executive Officer of DTI, Miss Constance Swaniker, said DTI over the years had trained over 400 young people on Precision Quality programmes and aimed to complete a dual Technical and Vocational, Education and Training internships for over 1000 young people by August 2023.
She said the Precision Quality Movement was a solution to Africans to unleash the immense potential of Africa’s youth to create employment opportunities for the continent.
The movement, Miss Swanikersaid, would ensure the manufacturing and delivery of world class goods and services in Ghana and across Africa to create jobs and wealth for individuals and companies.
“It is clear that we must find an African solution to our problems, and that this can only be found in African unity. Divided we are weak; united, Africa could become one of the greatest forces for good in the world,” she added.
The Country Head of Mastercard Foundation, Mrs Rosy Fynn, speaking on the topic “Enabling work opportunities for young people through collaborative partnerships” said employers needed to find ways to inform curricula and support early employment opportunities as the first job often sets the path for most young people, adding “to make young people net creators of jobs, we must be intentional about building on their innate entrepreneurial drive to create work opportunities for themselves and their peers.
She called for more support to help grow youth and become innovative entrepreneurs with leadership development opportunities, access to finance, and market linkages to enable them to scale and create work opportunities for other young people.
BY VIVIAN ARTHUR
