Friday, February 26, 2010

GH¢11.9 MILLION SPENT ON 64,474 NYEP EMPLOYEES (PAGE 15, FEB 3, 2010)

THE GOVERNMENT is currently spending GH¢11.9 million to pay the monthly salaries of 69,474 young persons employed under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).
The programme, which is aimed at alleviating poverty among the youth, will this year cover an additional 200,000 persons.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Baba Jamal Mohamed Ahmed, made this known at the Eastern Regional launch of the ICT Module of the NYEP at the Jackson Park, Koforidua, last weekend.
Under the ICT Module, a large number of those engaged under the NYEP will be trained in ICT, especially servicing of mobile phones assembled in Ghana by rLG Communications, a privately owned Ghanaian company.
According to Baba Jamal, the government had taken pragmatic steps to ensure that enough funds were available for the restructuring, implementation and expansion of the programme to make it more attractive and sustainable, adding that this year an additional 200,000 persons would be taken on.
He, therefore, appealed to corporate bodies to support the government to make the programme a success.
Baba Jamal said to make the programme successful, the Ministry of Youth and Sports had taken the initiative to implement NYEP business proposals during which individual young persons with creative business ideas would be trained and assisted with funds and logistics, as well as mentoring support, to ensure that their businesses made the desired impact.
He said between 2010 and 2012, the government would implement a comprehensive ICT labour market by establishing ICT infrastructure, including two international ICT grade parks on the Akuapem Ridge in the Eastern Region and Cape Coast in the Central Region and also in the other regions.
That, he said, would increase ICT job-related opportunities for the youth and improve its infrastructure to contribute massively towards the intended ICT revolution in the country.
Baba Jamal advised the unemployed youth to take advantage of the ICT Module to improve their lot and congratulated rLG Communications on its partnership with the NYEP.

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