The Ambassador of Spain to Ghana Alicia Rico has said one of the main aims of Spain and members of the European Union (EU) is to create jobs in Ghana and other African countries through sustainable investment.
According to her, 18 million jobs must be created before 2035 to be able to bridge the gap between unemployment and economic growth.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, she said the youth is the driving force for the economic growth of Ghana and Africa but the jobs available are not enough to empower them.
“What we have to have into account is that Africa has a great asset which is also a big challenge and that is its youth. The youth is the driving forces in Ghana and the entire sub-Saharan countries. 18 million jobs have to create by 2035. Now only 3 million jobs are available. So the main aim for Spain, the European Union and all the other member state is to help create those jobs,” she said.
In February the European Union (EU) signed an agreement with Ghana towards providing €40 million to enable the Government to accelerate the implementation of structural reforms essential for strong, inclusive and job-creating growth.
The EU Ambassador to Ghana, Ms Diana Acconcia and Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the Minister of Finance, signed for their respective sides, at a ceremony in Accra, a statement issued by the EU and copied to the Ghana News Agency.
The programme would support the national development framework, which focuses on jobs as a means to create prosperity and opportunity for all, contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, according to the statement said: “This €40 million programme shows how private investment can help deliver the Sustainable Development Goals.
“It will enable the Ghanaian government to accelerate the implementation of structural reforms essential for strong, inclusive and job-creating growth. A perfect example of the Africa-Europe Alliance in action”.
The programme focuses on the areas of the business climate, public financial governance and employment.
The main objectives are to promote domestic and foreign private investment, enable businesses to spearhead economic transformation and create employment, strengthen public financial governance and boost domestic revenue mobilisation, as well as to fight against corruption.
The funds would be managed by the Government. The programme is aligned with President Akufo-Addo’s vision of “Ghana Beyond Aid”, a long-term economic and social transformation strategy.
According to the EU, the budget support operation (the SDG contract) was an important lever to strengthen the business environment and the investment climate through regular policy dialogue and ambitious performance indicators.