A base-line survey report conducted by Youth Bridge Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), in 2009 indicated that the youth had not shown interest in Ghana's budgetary issues. The survey, which sampled about 260 respondents between 15-35 years in the Kumasi and Accra Metropolitan areas, revealed that about 37 percent of them were not aware that the national budget had been read. It said 56 percent were aware that the budget had been read, while seven percent were not sure it had been read. Speaking at the launch of an Economic Literacy Project to build capacity of selected youth in the southern zone of the country on budgetary related issues, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, described the report as “alarming”. The workshop, dubbed "Bridging Economic Literacy Gap for Youth and National Development", sought to equip about 30 participants selected from youth organisations and the media with knowledge about components of the budget and provisions for the youth in the 2010 National Budget Statement. It is expected to enlighten the participants on budget-planning to enable them educate their peers. Dr. Duffour noted that the scenario is unacceptable and does not augur well for the nation, since the youth are the future leaders and need to be abreast with issues of national concern. "The future of this country belongs to the youth, so it is imperative that they show much interest and commitment to understanding the budgetary processes of government to enable us make significant inputs to the preparation of the national budget," he said. Dr. Duffour noted that it is disheartening to learn that about 60 percent of the respondents did not recognise the use and relevance of the budget to improving their living standards. He said - as part of efforts to get the youth involved in national issues, government is focusing on social sector policies embodied in the "Better Ghana Agenda" that would lead to sustainable job-creation. Dr. Duffour called on the youth to be creative and committed to excellence to be able to play their rightful role and contribute meaningfully to national development. Mr. Seth Oteng, Executive Director of Youth Bridge Foundation, said the workshop was the first phase of lined up national projects to encourage the youth participation in governance and related issues. He said the foundation would organise a similar workshop for the Northern Zone. Source: BFT