MFANTSEMAN ASSEMBLY TO CREATE JOBS FOR THE YOUTH (PAGE 20)

THE Mfantseman Municipal Assembly is bracing itself to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Ghana Decent Work Project and the National Youth Employment Programme (NEAP), to create jobs for the youth and reduce poverty in the municipality.
 Apart from inaugurating the special committee to see to the successful implementation of the ILO project, the assembly has also set up another task force for the smooth implementation of the NYEP.
The Municipal Employment Task Force (MELTF) is to play a supervisory role over the NYEP by identifying the shortfalls within the programme for redress at the national level.
 The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Benjamin Kweku Hayfron, who inaugurated the MELTF at Saltpond, cautioned those engaged under the NYEP against acts of truancy.
Mr Hayfron advised the youth to desist from acts that could impact negatively on the smooth implementation of the programme.
He said so far, the assembly had implemented six modules under the NYEP.
According to him, 389 out of the 500 youth engaged under the six modules of the NYEP were at post.
 Mr Hayfron expressed the hope that the programme would achieve the desired results if it was given the necessary patronage by the youth.
The National Project Officer, Youth Employment and Women’s Entrepreneurship, Mr Patrice A. Caesar-Sowah, explained that the NYEP was not a permanent avenue for employment, but a transitional arrangement to engage the youth while organising themselves for their real career.
He said Africa needed strong institutions to enhance its development.
Mr Caesar-Sowah added that the ILO would help strengthen institutions through capacity building and empowering of the youth and the vulnerable such as women, since development depended on productive youth with skills and gainful employment.
He said apart from making the youth responsible, it would also ensure security and stability.
The Omanhen of the Mankesim Traditional Area, Osagyefo Amanfo Edu VI who chaired the function, called on the Government to give legal backing to the NYEP to give meaning to its establishment.