|
2010 NYEP massive recruitment drive takes off in
earnest
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot
Accra, Nov 25, Ghanadot - The Government of Ghana is making
frantic efforts to alleviate unemployment, especially among the
youth in the country.
To this end, the government through the Ministry of Youth and
Sports has roll-out the 2010 National Youth Employment Programme
(NYEP) massive recruitment drive to further rope in more
unemployed youth into the programe.
The programme is expected to benefit more than 200,000 youth
between 2010 and 2011.
The youth will be recruited into modules such as the Youth in
Security Services, comprising community protection assistants,
fire safety and prevention assistants, immigration service
assistants, and prison service assistants.
While, the Community Education Teaching Assistants; Youth in
Agriculture Business, Youth in ICT; Youth in Paid Internship and
Vacation Jobs; Youth in Afforestation; and Youth in Trades and
Vocation.
Launching the 2010 NYEP Recruitment Drive under the theme: “Hope
for the youth-towards a better Ghana”, the Minister of Youth and
Sports, Mr. Rashid Pelpuo emphasized that “all these modules are
being implemented with the collaborative efforts of all
stakeholders, including governmental and non-governmental
organizations committed to youth development, employment
creation, and poverty reduction”.
According to him, the government’s vision of better Ghana
encompasses access by all citizens, including the poor and the
disadvantaged, to remunerative employment and productive
resources.
Access to primary education, primary healthcare, sanitation and
clean water, and community security and protection must be
assured for all people, Mr. Pelpuo added.
To the youth, the sector Minister appealed to them to take
advantage of all these laudable initiatives to make their lives
more fulfilling and admonished them to use the additional
experiences they gained to contribute to the socio-economic
development of the country.
For the rest of the society, especially, the private sector, Mr.
Pelpuo encouraged them to get involved and make it a programme
that was geared toward providing employment for every household
and all citizens of the country.
Given his welcome address and situational report of the NYEP,
the National Coordinator of the National Youth Employment
Programme, Mr. Pele Abuga disclosed that close to 80,000 youth
job seekers had registered with the programme nationwide.
He further disclosed that since the inception of the programme,
it had been able to recruit only 110,000 representing 10% of
those seeking to be engaged.
But the impact has been very tremendous particularly in the area
of health, agric, education, sanitation and security support
services, Mr. Abuga indicated.
The National Coordinator of the programme revealed that the
ministry had reviewed the programme and recommendations were
being implemented.
These, Mr. Abuga mentioned included headcount exercise to rid
the pay roll of ghost names, exit plans are introduced to give
opportunity to beneficiaries to graduate into mainstream
employment, and restructuring the programme to make room for
more effective in monitoring and recruitment.
On challenges, he indicated that the programme is being
confronted with a number of challenges. These are mainly in the
area of funding, accommodation and the legal foundation of the
programme.
To address these, Mr. Abuga intimated that the ministry has made
a number of proposals to government for considerations; that the
programme be encased in legislation this is being emphasized by
2010 budget; the talk-time be raised to at least 70%, funds from
the funding sources be deducted at source beginning first
quarter of next year.
At the launch, both the Minster of Interior, Mr. Cletus Avoka
and Minister of Education, Mr. Alex Tetteh-Enyo confessed that
the programme has been beneficial to their ministries.
|
