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A senior research fellow at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), Dr Saed Boakye, has called for transparency in the disbursement of funds under the new YouStart initiative.
YouStart is a vehicle for supporting young entrepreneurs to gain access to capital, training, technical skills and mentoring to enable them launch and operate their own businesses.
Speaking on The Asaase Breakfast Show on Friday (19 November), Dr Boakye said the government must, however, desist from politicising the initiative.
“‘First of all I must say that this initiative is the kind of initiative that I support… this particular one is a laudable one because funds are going to people to embark on productive activities.
“I am calling on the government to make sure that a mechanism will be put in place to collect the monies that have been lent out. The monies have to be given to people who can utilise those monies for effective productive activities, so that revenue is generated,” Dr Boakye said.
He added: “But I am afraid these are just words. It is actually party faithful who are going to benefit and those who will take the funds will behave as if it is government’s money. This has happened before.”
However, Agyapomaa Gyeke-Dako, an economist at the University of Ghana Business School, believes the involvement of commercial banks in the disbursement of the funds will enhance transparency under the initiative.
Background
The government is to roll out a new initiative dubbed “ YouStart” aimed at creating one million jobs for the youth, the Minister of Finance has said.
Delivering the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government in Parliament on Wednesday (17 November), Ken Ofori-Atta said the initiative will start with an initial funding of GHC1 billion.
“This understanding of the youth employment challenge, as well as extensive consultations with stakeholders including youth associations and educational institutions across the country, have led to the development of the YouStart initiative which proposes to use GHC1 billion to create one million jobs and in partnership with the Finance Institutions and Development Partners,” he said.
”In addition, our local banks have agreed to a package that will result in increasing their SME portfolio up to about GHC 5 billion over the next three years.”
Soft loans
Under the initiative, soft loans of up to GHC50,000 will be provided to beneficiaries to help start-ups (in particular by young graduates and school leavers) and small businesses to expand.
“Starter packs (Soft loans tied to equipment acquisition) of up to GHC50,000 for individuals and GHC100,000 for associations/groups. A standardised loan package of between GHC100,000 to GHC400,000 at concessional rates for SMEs through financial institutions,” he said.
“The Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), and partner financial institutions, will serve as the implementing arms of YouStart. Entrepreneurs will be able to apply for support through a dedicated YouStart online portal. NEIP will also engage our faith-based organisations as partners for the delivery of essential artisanal skills,” Ofori-Atta added.
Source: asaaseradio.com
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