Nnaa Menka Baanawa I, the Youth Chief of the Moe Traditional Council in the Kintampo North Municipality of the Bono East Region has called on the government to integrate the 24-hour economy initiative into crop, livestock, poultry and fishing sectors.
He said doing so would make the agriculture sector more attractive to the youth, saying that about 80 of the youth in the area were engaged in agriculture.
Nnaa Banaawa told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview at Kintampo that the youth were mostly engaged in crop farming, livestock rearing and fishing hence the need for the government to support them to expand their economic activities and enhance their source of livelihoods.
Nnaa Baanawa indicated that integrating the 24-hour economy policy into agriculture would create job opportunities, increase food productivity, and provide ready markets for farmers.
He said with the provision of modern farming tools, irrigation facilities and agro-processing support, the youth in the area could farm 24 hours.
Nnaa Baanawa I said that the traditional methods of farming were not impacting the lives of the youth, describing those methods as outdated.
He expressed worry that high youth unemployment threatened security of the area, saying that unemployment remained the driving force of recurring armed robbery and indecent behaviours among the youth in the area.
The youth chief also expressed concern about the rise in youth substance abuse and alcoholism in the area and called for concerted efforts to bring the situation under control.
Nnaa Baanawa I also called on stakeholders, like traditional authorities, NGOs, philanthropists, and development partners to collaborate with the government in supporting the youth to engage in commercial agriculture.
GNA
By Vincent Agandaa Ayindoo, GNA
