The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Kofi Baah Agyepong, has revealed that the country’s unemployment rate is going to be tackled under the Business and Employment Assistance Programme (BEAP).
BEAP which is a government initiative under YEA seeks to address the financial challenges faced by Micro and Small Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the CEO, BEAP is seen as a vital intervention to support these struggling enterprises and individual businesses which have been affected one way or the other.
At a conference in Kumasi on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, Mr. Agyapong noted that BEAP aims to provide a lifeline to MSMEs, offering salary support of GH 500 per recruited employee, with the employer supplementing the remainder.
Mr. Agyepong also announced that plans are underway to support 10,000 companies, facilitating the employment of approximately 20,000 individuals adding that the agency will make good use of funding from the Communication Service Tax and focus on job creation for the youth.
Over the years, the YEA according to the CEO has been working hard to reduce the rate of unemployment and lessen the burdens of life on young people while allowing them to make ends meet.
BEAP is expected to alleviate the financial burden on businesses such as chop bars, pharmacies, schools, and more while bolstering employment opportunities for Ghana’s workforce.
