The National Labour Commission (NLC) has directed the Youth and Employment Agency (YEA), formerly known as the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA), to pay an amount of 455,364 cedis to nine staff for wrongfully terminating their contracts.

The nine dragged the agency to the commission after then Executive Director Kobby Achempong declared their contracts null and void. Soon after Mr. Achempong took over the running of GYEEDA from the Abuga Pele administration which had allegedly been riddled with corruption in 2012, the contracts of several staff were terminated. They were accused of not using the right procedure in securing the jobs. Some of them fought back, by dragging the agency to the NLC.

Months after the NLC was petitioned, a settlement was agreed on 7^th August 2015. The NLC adopted the agreement, which was signed by lawyers of the two sides and Senior Industrial Relations Officer of the NLC Eric Omane Boamah, as consent judgment.

A copy of the agreement cited by Joy News states: “the respondent (YEA) shall pay the commission four hundred and fifty five thousand, three hundred and sixty four Ghana cedis, twenty pesewas (455,364.20) being total of outstanding amounts owing and due complainants on or before Friday 7^th August 2015.”

It adds: “The respondent shall pay the negotiated interest of 20 percent on the total outstanding principal payable to each complainant from the said date of November 2012 till the date of final payment.”

A cheque covering the amount was supposed to have been deposited at the NLC by 10^th August, but sources at the commission say YEA has not paid the money. Reminder letters to the commission from the aggrieved staff on 10^th October and 16^th November have also received no response.