Mr Pele Abuga, Co-ordinator of the NYEP

The whole of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) is being restructured and the previous positions and attachments are to be replaced with functional departments such as Operations, Finance and Administration, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Human Resource.

To this effect, a bill, which proposes a radically different funding structure and provides for the re-positioning of the NYEP and its scope of operations to make the programme a central focus for the youth and related programmes, has been drafted.

According to Mr Pele Abuga, Co-ordinator of the NYEP, who made these known at a news conference in Accra, yesterday, the Public Services Commission (PSC) was assisting the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare to undertake the assignment.

Mr Abuga said guidelines had been provided for the recruitment and management of some of the modules under the programme and that the PSC had approved a Scheme of Service for the NYEP.

He explained that the Scheme of Service would facilitate and serve as a guide in the recruitment or appointment of staff to carry out the mandate and functions of the key divisions under the programme.

Mr Abuga disclosed that as of June 2012 four hundred and fifty-seven thousand, seven hundred and seventy-nine (457,779) beneficiaries had been recruited by the youth employment programme.

This figure, he said, represented more than 400 per cent increase in the number of beneficiaries engaged as of December 2008, just before the government of President Mills assumed office.

He disclosed that a Business Advisory Unit had been established under the NYEP to identify business opportunities to build the self-employment ambitions of beneficiaries, adding that the Unit was assisting in the registration and the drawing-up of business development plans for beneficiaries.

Mr Abuga said apart from the Business Development Advisory Unit, a Unit for Persons with Disability (PWDs) had also been established and that one thousand and seven hundred (1,700) persons with disability had been offered placement in various modules under the NYEP while arrangements had been completed to engage additional support from the Danish International Development Association (DANIDA) to implement specialised modules for PWDs.

He said in collaboration with the Controller & Accountant-General’s Department, the NYEP had also established the Provident Fund to support beneficiaries during their exit.

He said cabinet had granted the NYEP’s request for an increase in the Communication Service Tax (CST) meant for the programme from 20 per cent to 60 per cent.

Mr Abuga said payment of the 60 per cent, which began in April 2011, had brought great relief to the NYEP, having added GH₵4 million per quarter to the programme.

He expressed the hope that proposals to introduce a new funding schedule, in view of the significance of youth employment in Ghana and for social stability, would be accepted for implementation by government.

Source: ISD (G.D. Zaney)

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