Nation Builders Corps

President Akufo Addo on May 1 launched the National Builders Corps, NABCOP, an initiative by government to create one hundred thousand graduate jobs. The initiative is expected to reduce significantly the number of unemployed youth who hold diploma and degrees from accredited tertiary institutions across the country. NABCOP is a major policy intervention introduced by the Akufo-Addo administration to tackle unemployment after the introduction of the National Youth Employment Program by former President Kufuor which was later changed to GYEEDA, and YEA under former President Mahama. It will be in seven (7) prioritised areas defined as these modules: Educate Ghana: Heal Ghana, Feed Ghana, Revenue Ghana, Digitised Ghana, Enterprise Ghana; and Civic Ghana.

Graduates must also have completed one year mandatory National Service. By the time NABCO trainees exit the scheme, which is for a 3-year period, “the requisite work readiness skills and experience, often deemed a barrier to their employment as fresh graduates, would have been resolved. The website www.nabco.gov.gh is the only medium for receiving applications from graduates, as long as they are Ghanaians. There are no charges or costs, and no paper application forms to fill. Everything is being done online, and on the website of NABCO to prevent fraud.

For the attainment of equity and fairness every constituency has a stated allocation out of the 100 thousand placements, which has been worked out based on a weighting formula to ensure that all constituencies whether large or small have adequate representation. These graduates are entitled to a monthly allowance of seven hundred Ghana cedis. Beneficiaries will also receive continuous skills training, and retraining on the job, both to equip and guide their future career paths. It is for this reason that some of the arguments made so far against the Nation Builders Corps are surprising to say the least.

I’m seeing debates centred on the fact that the GHS 700 is too small for graduates. Some even say that the low payment is an insult and they would rather prefer to stay at home than take such a paltry sum of money. Well, as a policy intervention, NABCO is voluntary and the government cannot force it down the throat of such individuals. Youth unemployment has been a tragic part of the lives of Ghanaians for far too long as a result of the ban placed on public sector employment by the International Monetary Fund. I know people in high public offices today who got there through the National Youth Employment Program.

Although the monies paid to beneficiaries at the time was woefully inadequate, such people looked at the bigger picture at that time and not the monetary benefits. Their sacrifice has paid off. It is also gratifying to note that NABCO will not end government's desire to create jobs for the youth. Like many other new initiatives, NABCO is bound to face challenges. It's is on record that government initiatives in the past, meant to alleviate poverty, could not achieve its intended purpose because of corruption and unnecessary political intervention.

Government must therefore put in place measures to tackle such challenges. There must also be check and balances to ensure that the officials who will be put in charge of managing affairs of NABCO do not enrich themselves.

Let's avoid the GYEEDA, SADA era where an initiative meant to alleviate poverty in the three regions of the north became a vehicle to siphon money from the State eventually bringing the program to its knees.

BY BRIGHT MIREKU NTRAMAH, A JOURNALIST.

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