A two-year programme aimed at creating agribusiness employment opportunities for the youth through sustainable aquaculture systems has been launched in Accra.
It was organised by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture with support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
The project is in the areas of aquaculture and cassava value chain, which is expected to create more jobs.
The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Ms Sherry Ayitey, speaking at a day’s workshop said it was aimed to introduce the project to participants and build partnership with all relevant stakeholders in its implementation and receive comments, experiences and perspective from participants.
The workshop she said would also focus on producing specific outputs and bring together focal points from national agencies and representatives of non-government institutions.
She said, the increasing trend of youth unemployment, and the threat it posed to overall socio-economic growth, peace and stability had in recent years gained a growing prominence on the developmental agenda after long decades of neglect.
Ms Ayittey said the fisheries sector as a whole employed 12.3 million people as full-time fishers and part-time processors, representing 2-1 per cent of Africa’s population of between 15 and 64 years old.
Dr Lamourdia Thiombiano ,FAO representative to Ghana said, the role of the youth in national development could not be overemphasised.
He said, the vibrancy and enthusiasm of the youth was vital in pushing through the various planned interventions in mitigating the incidence of hunger and for insecurity in the country.
Dr Thiombiano said, the FAO would support the implementation of the National Aquaculture Development Plan for decent and sustainable jobs.
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