The appointment of NPP National Youth Organiser Sammy Awuku as Board chairman of Youth Employment Agency has been challenged as illegal.

The ranking member on the Employment Committee of Parliament who is also Pru East NDC MP, Kwabena Donkor has argued, the appointment is in breach of YEA Act 887 which sets out a meritocratic demand for the post.

The Act passed in 2015 states in Sect 4, Sub-Section 1a that the post is reserved for "a person of recognised standing and experience in administration and human resource development or training as the chairperson".

The Youth Employment Agency is the biggest government-run program to provide jobs and vocational training for the unemployed.

Sammy Awuku's last job in the public service was at the National School Feeding Programme where he worked as a National Service Personnel after completing the University of Ghana.

Following the exit of the NPP from power in 2009, Sammy Awuku has engaged in private businesses and devoted much of his time in grassroot political activism rising to become NPP National Youth Organiser.

After a successful 2016 electioneering season, Sammy Awuku has marked a return to public office albeit to a much more further position.

The appointment is seen by some as a reward for his sterling efforts in moblising the party youth in the 2016 general elections. He is seen by many as a rising star in the party.

A view which the Pru East MP recognised in a post in which he also questioned his suitability for the YEA board chairman position.

Newly sworn-in Board of the YEA

Read Kwabena Donkor's post

I spoke out yesterday questioning the choice of Sammy Awuku as Board Chairman of the Youth Employment Agency on Class FM.

While recognizing that Sammy Awuku is a young man with leadership potential, he at the present moment does not meet the requirements for the position of Board Chair of YEA.

Both the letter and spirit of the law is very clear. Act 887, the Youth Employment Agency Act, 2015 states 'a person of recognised standing and experience in administration and human resource development or training as the chairperson' Act 887 Sect 4, sub section 1a.

While Sammy Awuku may qualify to chair other Boards without this specific provision, appointing him to Chair the YEA is an error.

And I humbly call onHis Excellency the President to rectify this error.