Crony-Capitalism Must Not Be Allowed To Destroy GYEEDA

Today,   youth unemployment has become a global social problem. It is a problem that  governments in nations around the world, both rich and poor,  are grappling with - with varied degrees of success.


Luckily, there are a number of government initiatives in Ghana - the Local Enterprise and Skills Development Programme (LESDEP) and its variants being examples  -   which are creating thousands of micro-entrepreneurs.


In a sense,  initiatives of that nature,   are perfect tools   for ensuring social mobility in Ghana, for the marginalised in society. They also create an entrepreneurship culture amongst marginalised and poor communities in both urban and rural Ghana.


In a nation with huge disparities in wealth, that is a  vital societal safety-valve,  for  preventing  possible violent future  social upheaval.


It is for that reason that it is  so important  that those now running Ghana,   appreciate the fact that such schemes ought to  be  run efficiently,  and in transparent fashion - because over the long-term,   they have the potential to transform the lives of  millions of marginalised young people,  around the country.


Against the backdrop of  media allegations of widespread corruption, the government must move  swiftly,    to put   right   whatever has gone  wrong,    at the  Ghana Youth Employment and Enterprise Development Agency (GYEEDA).


At the heart of the malaise at GYEEDA,  and similar initiatives like it,  is the totally unacceptable greed that seems to underpin its implementation.


It appears to have ended up becoming  a clever money-making scheme for the well-connected. That is unjust and shameful.


In one instance,  for example, as much as Ghc400 out of every Ghc500 of taxpayers' cash,  paid per month for  each participant -  in an initiative meant to train, equip and empower marginalised and unemployed youth to become self-employed -  ends up  being paid to a  private-sector entity as  "management fees":  in a process whose hallmark is its structured-opaqueness.


That cannot be justified under any circumstances. The government must ensure that the bulk of hapless taxpayers' cash,   used for all such initiatives, goes directly into the end-of-training packages  designed to set participants up in business, after successfully completing their training.


Surely, there are   many entrepreneurial and training consultancies in Ghana, which  would happily accept Ghc50 " training and management fees" per participant per month,  to deliver training for GYEEDA's various "modules",   if put out to tender  for competitive bidding?


Under no circumstances should  egregious crony-capitalism,   be allowed to destroy what is a taxpayer-sponsored way out of the poverty-trap,  for millions of unemployed young people   across  the country. A word to the wise...


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