The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh has disclosed that the Youth in Afforestation programme has so far generated about 81,362 jobs.

President Akufo-Addo in August 2018 launched the programme as an initiative to create jobs for the youth.

Addressing the media in Accra today, the Lands and Natural Resources Minister said the implementation of the programme is in line with government’s commitment to reforestation, forest rehabilitation and forest protection.

“To create jobs for the youth while ensuring sustainable management of the natural resources, the following interventions were undertaken from 2017 to date; linking youth employment to plantation development," the Minister said.

"Others include providing alternative livelihood programmes for communities in mining areas and forest-fringed communities, facilitation and promotion of community Mining Scheme,” he added. 

He further stated that the Alternative Livelihood Programme since 2017 has benefitted 33,044 individuals through the production and distribution of oil palm seedlings.  

“As part of the Alternative Livelihood Programme in forest-fringe communities, 500 beneficiaries were trained and supported in seedling production, beekeeping, mushroom production and soap making around Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, Western and Western North Regions under the Forest Investment Programme”.

Asomah-Cheremeh said the Community Mining programme that seeks to promote responsible mining within mining communities is expected to create 126,000 jobs effective June 2020.

He said about 220 youth have been employed as mine-wardens to assist in combating illegal mining.