The Youth Bridge Foundation (YBF) launched its economic literacy program on the 24th to 25th June 2010 as part of its commitment to youth development in Ghana. The project which falls under the Participation and Empowerment programme focal area of the foundation has 3 distinct phases which includes:

 

1.    A baseline survey conducted by the foundation to assess the level of awareness, knowledge and interest of the youth regarding national budgets    and economic policy statements of government.
2.    Trainer of Trainees (ToT) workshop, dissemination and re-training
3.    Analysis the 2011 national budget when it is read and  tracking and monitoring of budget components /allocations

The survey which forms part of the first phase sampled about 260 respondents between 15-35 years in the Kumasi and Accra Metropolitan areas. It revealed that about 37 percent of young people were not aware that the national budget had been read and only 4% had actually seen and read a copy of the national budget.

   
Speaking at the launch of an Economic Literacy Project to build capacity of selected youth in the southern zone of the country on budgetary related issues, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, described the report as “alarming”.The workshop, dubbed "Bridging Economic Literacy Gap for Youth and National Development", sought to equip about 30 participants selected from youth organizations and the media with knowledge about components of the budget and provisions for the youth in the 2010 National Budget Statement. The youth group delegates and youth in media were drawn from Greater Accra, Central, Eastern, Western and Volta Regions zoned into Southern Ghana.


Dr. Duffour noted that the scenario is unacceptable and does not augur well for the nation, since the youth are the future leaders and need to be abreast with issues of national concern.
"The future of this country belongs to the youth, so it is imperative that they show much interest and commitment to understanding the budgetary processes of government to enable us make significant inputs to the preparation of the national budget," he said. Dr. Duffour  further noted that it is disheartening to learn that about 60 percent of the respondents did not recognize the use and relevance of the budget to improving their living standards. He said - as part of efforts to get the youth involved in national issues, government is focusing on social sector policies embodied in the "Better Ghana Agenda" that would lead to sustainable job-creation. Dr. Duffour called on the youth to be creative and committed to excellence to be able to play their rightful role and contribute meaningfully to national development.

Mr. Seth Oteng, Executive Director of Youth Bridge Foundation, said the workshop was the first phase of lined up national projects to encourage the youth participation in governance and

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