The Mfantseman District Assembly has employed 318 young people under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP). Mr Joseph Yankson, District Co-ordinator of the NYEP announced this at a youth forum at Mankessim. The forum was organized by the Mfantseman District Secretariat of the National Youth Council, to discuss problems inhibiting education and employment of the youth. Plan Ghana, a non-governmental organization (NGO) sponsored the programme. Mr Yankson said the government would ensure prompt payment of people employed under the NYEP and appealed to the youth to register with it to reduce the problem of unemployment in the country. Miss Vivian Etroo, District Education Director, said the directorate had instituted measures to improve academic performance of schools in the district. She appealed to parents to find time to interact with teachers to enable them to know how the children were faring in school. Mr Nellie Agyare Arkah, District officer of the National Board of Small Scales Industries (NBSSI), said the board would offer skill training to artisans at the Biriwa Vocational Training and Rehabilitation Centre. He said 30 trainees would be selected and supported with tools and start-up capital. Mr Jacob Turkson, Mankessim Programme Area Manager of Plan, Ghana, urged traditional authorities to remove all traditions and norms which inhibit education and development of children. Source: GNA