By: Saidu Jalloh
The Minister of Youth Affairs, Mohamed Orman Bangura, highlighted the Ministry’s achievement in empowering young at the Government Weekly Press Briefing on Tuesday, 26th November 2024.
Minister Bangura mentioned that the grand launch of the Government’s Youth Employment Promotion and Livelihood Empowerment Program at Kallon Car Park on 21st November 2024 was not a new event for journalists. He stated that he had informed journalists during a previous Weekly Press Briefing a couple of months ago that the Ministry had secured funding and was finalizing the process to purchase 200 tricycles.
The Minister emphasized the success of the initial purchase of 20 tricycles, from which 90% of the funds were recovered. He highlighted the profitability of the tricycle business and expressed confidence that it would transform the lives of young people, making them millionaires.
According to him, the actual cost of a tricycle is 85 thousand New Leones. He expressed gratitude to the NPPA for their advisory role in the successful purchase of the 200 tricycles. Minister Orman disclosed that after negotiations with Shalimar Trading Company, each tricycle cost 65 thousand New Leones, resulting in savings of 20 thousand New Leones per tricycle.
He stressed that transparency and accountability were priorities, unlike previous practices of inflating costs.
Minister Orman announced the selection of service providers to distribute the two hundred tricycles to young people, who would then employ 10 individuals each for collections. He clarified that two hundred and twenty individuals had directly benefited from the program.
The Minister addressed criticisms of the selection process, defending the fair distribution of resources without political bias. He emphasized the importance of timely loan repayments to support further youth empowerment initiatives.
He explained the rationale behind the decision to offer the tricycles as loans rather than grants, emphasizing the desire to expand opportunities for more young people. He praised President Bio’s support for young entrepreneurs and highlighted the success of the youth engagement in the fishing boat program.
Minister Bangura commended the cooperation of young people in loan repayments and the efficient management of state resources.
He said that they received the money as a grant and by right, they were supposed to give the money to young people for free. However, they wanted more young people to benefit, which is why they decided to implement it as a loan recovery program.
Regarding the fishing boats, he explained that the fishing boat program was started by the All Peoples Congress (APC), which bought 70 boats. Adding that the costs of the 70 boats purchased by the APC were more expensive than the 70 boats and 50 boats purchased by his Ministry, including all necessary accessories. He noted that President Bio emphasized the efficiency of state resources and standing by the people.
He also applauded the young people in the Western Area, both in the Urban and Rural areas, for their excellent cooperation in the loan recovery of the 70 boats.
The Minister shared achievements in providing grants to youth organizations and highlighted collaboration with international partners like IOM and UNFPA. He outlined plans to support young agriculture entrepreneurs with monthly stipends and training opportunities.
Bangura encouraged youth involvement in agriculture and technical vocational skills training programs, emphasizing the importance of certification for successful training completion.
He highlighted the reasons why they are training young people to have a certificate. “This is to avoid a situation where one is being asked by employers for his or her certificate even though someone knows the job,” he emphasized.
