One out of the 15 journalists in the Upper East region alleged to have been put on a special payroll of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) to defend the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government has confirmed being offered a job. The Northern Regional correspondent for Joy and Adom FM, Joseph Osei said he was offered an appointment letter from NYEP and an account number in which a monthly salary would be paid to favour government propaganda. Journalists in Bolgatanga in the Upper East region, in an audio recording circulating in the media, have allegedly been promised jobs and money from the NYEP if their reportage favour the government. The recording purported to be the voice of Deputy Information Minister Baba Jamal wooing journalists in the Upper East region in a secret meeting, promising them employment and cash rewards, if they do the government's bidding to enhance NDC’s chances of retaining power in 2012. But Baba Jamal has denied being a party to any of such conspiracy and has threatened legal action against all media houses that have attributed the contents on the audio recording to him. Baba Jamal who had conceded meeting journalists in Upper East during his official tour of the region insists he never promise them (journalists) jobs or money when they write stories to favour the government. The Deputy Information Minister who claimed to have listened to the tape said it is a total fabrication by his detractors. Meanwhile,on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Thursday, Joseph Osei revealed that an appointment letter and an account number was given to him by a colleague journalist, Samuel Abaane, who is the Northern Regional correspondent for the Enquirer Newspaper. According to Osei, Samuel Abaane told him the government has decided to enroll journalists in the region into the NYEP programme as interns to train and offer them jobs to support government in its bid to retain power in 2012. Joseph Osei stated that upon interrogation, Samuel Abaane told him that the journalists under the NYEP would be given internships in either the Ghana News Agency, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation or any state owned media house to work for government. Joseph Osei noted that he declined the offer since it was unethical and unprofessional for a journalist to allow him or herself to be compromised just to please a particular political party. He however dismissed suggestions that he circulated the alleged tape, noting that he was not even present at the said meeting. Meanwhile the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in a press conference in Accra Thursday, condemned the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of misusing state funds. The NPP added that the action by the NDC spearheaded by a Deputy Information Minister,Baba Jamal undermines press freedom. The party named some journalist alleged to have been shortlisted as beneficiaries from the scheme headed by Samuel Abaane, northern regional correspondent of the Enquirer newspaper. The others are Gifty Amoshie of A1 Radio; Abotiyine Akayete (with account number 10743-5336/11); Dagba Felix Lambert of Ura Radio/Radio Ghana; Sophia Kumi of Ura Radio/Radio Ghana; and Foster Aggor of Style FM (with account number 10743-5334/11). The rest are Samuel Akapule of the Ghana News Agency (10743-5323/11); Osmand of Word FM; Joseph Osei of Joy FM (10743-5333/11); Dalulah Nsarebor of the Ghanaian Chronicle; Madam Fati of the Ghana News Agency; Abdul Hamid of the Daily Graphic (10743-5361/11); Alhaji of Ghanaian Times; Abraham Pime of Radio Ghana and Abdula Issaka of Metro TV (10743-5346/11) Story by: Adwoa Gyasiwaa/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana