The National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) will soon exit about 5,000 beneficiaries whose two years of appointment onto the programme would expire this year.
Under the plan, arrangements have been made with various institutions to permanently engage the beneficiaries after the two years period or given top-up training.
Some beneficiaries would also be off-loaded to private organizations such as the private hospitals, clinics, private schools and private security agencies.
Briefing the press in Accra last week, the National Coordinator NYEP Mr. Abuga Pele indicated the exit plan was being implemented to ensure that beneficiaries who are leaving the programme after the two years mandatory service are supported to obtain permanent employment or pursue further education.
Mr. Abuga Pele advised the exited beneficiaries who are business minded to take advantage of the Youth Enterprise and Skills Development Centers (YESDEC) to establish their own businesses.
He said YESDEC which was established under the current administration with funds from the World Bank and DANIDA; is aim at providing avenues for youth with entrepreneurial skills especially the exited beneficiaries who have completed their two years services.
The Coordinator admitted the challenges in the payment of beneficiaries’ allowances but was quick to add that tremendous strides have been made with the introduction of the partnership arrangement with Better Ghana Management Service (BGMS).
He mentioned that beneficiaries who have been captured on the pay roll have been paid up, in the case of Greater Accra Region whiles the exercise is on going to capture all excluded beneficiaries and pay all arrears including outstanding arrears before August 2012.
Mr. Abuga Pele further explained that the programme in January 2011 established a provident fund for beneficiaries, thus deduction of five cedis from their allowance while the programme also contributes another 5 cedis monthly.
He added that the amount which constitutes ten cedis each to every beneficiary of the NYEP fund will be given to the beneficiary who would not opt for renewal.
The NYEP Coordinator, Mr. Abuga Pele therefore rubbished claims made by certain groups who threatened to hit the street if their one year allowances are not paid to them.
Mr. Abuga Pele explained also that such individual demanding allowances were either not at post or in many cases, were functioning students of various institution who tried to get paid when on break.
Since the introduction of the exit plan, the programme has exited 110,796 beneficiaries and new ones have been engaged to replace them.
By Iddrissu Abubakari Jara
By The Al-Hajj
