Government has concluded phase one of its YouStart stakeholder engagements.

This comes after it engaged the last batch of government institutions, regional ministers and Municipal, Metropolitan and District Chief Executives from the Eastern, Volta and Oti region in Koforidua on Wednesday, June 1, 2022.

Government is expected to begin phase two of the stakeholder engagements on Monday, June 6, 2022.

During the meetings, civil society organisations, the Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Association of Ghanaian Industries, identifiable youth groups, NABCO beneficiaries, Faith-Based Organisations, and the media will be engaged to sensitise them on the programme.

It is also a medium to get their feedback ahead of the launch by President Nana Akufo-Addo.

Speaking at the last engagement programme for some government institutions, Local Government Minister Dan Botwe said due to the potential impact of the YouStart programme on the local economy, MMDCEs needed to be sensitised about the programme ahead of its launch.

The Deputy Finance Minister, Dr John Ampontuah Kumah, stated that after engaging all the Regional Ministers and MMDCEs, government will now engage with various organisations and groups.

Representing the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta at the meetings, he said they aim to drive understanding and acceptability of the programme.

“So far, we have engaged them and have tasked them to set up YouStart desks at the grassroots level ahead of the launch," the Ejisu MP said.

He added, "In the coming days, we will also engage with civil society organisations, Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Association of Ghanaian Industries, identifiable youth groups, NABCO beneficiaries, Faith-Based Organisations and the media.

"Government has over the past years worked to reduce the unemployment situation in the country through recruitment into the public sector, NABCO, 1D1F, planting for food and jobs among several others."

He said, "To reduce the unemployment numbers drastically, government has introduced YouStart, targeting one million jobs in the next three years.

"So we want to make sure everybody is involved in how the programme is planned and executed. That is why we spent time doing this engagement,” he said.

YouStart is being funded by the Electronic Transfer Levy.