To equip 15,000 Ghanaians with employable skills, the government has established the Training and Retraining component of the National Unemployment Insurance Scheme (NUIS).
The effort, which is part of Ghana Cares' 'Obaatanpa' programme, is intended to act as a buffer against future disasters that may disrupt employment in the country.
It aims to improve workers' chances of re-entering the labour market at greater levels of productivity or performance by focusing on skill upgrading, work ethics, productivity, and attitudinal adjustment.
Committee in charge of implementation
The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, stated at the unveiling in Accra yesterday that an implementation committee had been formed with representatives from the government, organised labour, and employers to ensure the program's proper execution.
Workers who registered in the programme would have their expenses paid by the government, he added.
"Following today's announcement, advertising will be printed in daily newspapers inviting people to apply for the programme. All eligible beneficiaries around the country are encouraged to apply "he stated
He explained that the initiative was designed to preserve and upgrade the human capital and skills of current cohort workers who had lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
It will be executed through a partnership between the government and a number of public and private training institutes located around the country.
Pledge
Mr Ken Ofori Atta stated the government announced the creation of a National Unemployment Insurance Scheme (NUIS) and a Training and Retraining Program in the 2020 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review.
As part of the "Obaatan Pa" GhanaCARES Program, which aims to lessen the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on homes, businesses, and the economy,
He said that the COVID-19 epidemic wreaked havoc on economies all across the world, claiming thousands of lives and livelihoods.
"Unprecedented levels of unemployment and joblessness were observed as a result of the epidemic. While Ghana escaped major health consequences, such as job losses in the public sector, private sector employment were lost, and the country still faces a unique mix of socioeconomic issues "he said
Collaboration
Mr Ofori-Atta noted that the initiative was designed following extensive talks between the government and key stakeholders, including officials from the Ministries of Finance, Employment and Labour Relations, Organized Labor, and Ghana Employers.