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Gov’t to remove funding cap, free up GH¢1bn for youth employment programmes – Ato Forson

Gov’t to remove funding cap, free up GH¢1bn for youth employment programmes – Ato Forson

The Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, announced the measure during the presentation of the 2027 Budget in Parliament on Thursday, November 12. “Going forward, Communications Service Tax revenue accruing to youth employment and apprenticeship programmes will no longer be capped,” Dr Forson said.

The government plans to free up an additional GH¢1 billion for youth employment and apprenticeship programmes by removing the cap on funding allocated to youth employment programmes.

The Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, announced the measure during the presentation of the 2027 Budget in Parliament on Thursday, November 12.

He said the government would amend the Earmarked Funds Capping and Realignment Act, 2017 (Act 947), to remove the limit on revenue allocated to youth employment programmes.

“Government will amend the Earmarked Funds Capping and Realignment Act, 2017 (Act 947), to remove the cap on funding earmarked for youth employment programmes,” he told Parliament.

"This reform will free up additional GH¢1 billion for youth employment and apprenticeship programmes."

The amendment will allow revenue from the Communications Service Tax (CST) accruing to youth employment and apprenticeship programmes to be allocated without the existing cap.

“Going forward, Communications Service Tax revenue accruing to youth employment and apprenticeship programmes will no longer be capped,” Dr Forson said.

He explained that the change would provide additional resources to equip young people with relevant skills and improve their access to employment opportunities.

“This reform will provide more funding to empower young Ghanaians with skills and connect them to employment opportunities,” he added.

The Finance Minister also announced plans to amend and modernise the Youth Employment Act to harmonise the various youth employment programmes.

  • employment
  • youth
  • programme
  • funding
  • cap
  • forson
  • act
  • ato

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