The youth have been asked to report to the police any person who attempts to collect money from them in return for registration forms for jobs under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).

The Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, said that practice was "morally unacceptable and illegal and must be stopped by all well-meaning Ghanaians".

Addressing the passing-out parade of the first batch of Community Protection Assistants in Koforidua on Saturday, Alhaji Boniface stated that "some people are bent on sabotaging the laudable effort of the government by copying the format of the NYEP employment forms not only to confuse the youth but eventually sell the forms to them".

The 237 recruits, comprising 180 males and 57 females, were selected from four districts in the Eastern Region, namely, New Juaben, Birim South, Kwahu North and Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar. They completed a four-week basic training in police duties at the Police Training School in Koforidua.

They will be deployed to do various jobs, including directing traffic, patrolling the neighbourhood, liaising with opinion leaders, fostering community relations and forging partnerships in their respective communities.

Alhaji Boniface stated that some members of the public did not only show disrespect towards Community Protection Assistants but also refused to co-operate with them in the course of their duties, adding that his outfit had received reports of people insulting and refusing to obey those who worked as traffic wardens assisting the police at the various traffic intersections, particularly in Accra.

He, therefore, called on members of the public to support the NYEP so that "we can address youth unemployment and create wealth for the majority of our citizens".

Alhaji Boniface said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government had recognised the youth as an asset, hence the need to prepare them in their prime age to be well-educated and well-trained to build their potential to enable them to contribute meaningfully to the country's socioeconomic development.

In addition, the government recognised the youth not as a creative force for only today but also the future, saying that the young people of today wanted their voices to be heard, issues affecting them be addressed, their roles to be recognised, among other issues.

Alhaji Boniface also pointed out that the first batch of about 15,000 youths who were currently undergoing a six-month training at the various Ministry of Health training institutions would soon graduate and be deployed as Health Extension Workers to the various health institutions in their localities to assist health workers to deliver efficient health care to the people.

He said several employment modules had been rolled out by the NYEP since its inception to engage more than 92,000 youths nation-wide.

Culled from Daily Graphic