NATIONAL YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMME HAS NO LEGAL FRAMEWORK YET— SENA DANSUA

The Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon. Akua Sena Dansua disclosed today in Parliament that the major challenge facing the National Youth Employment Programme is the inadequate and irregular flow of funds as well as the absence of a legal framework for the programme.

She was responding to a question asked by Hon. (Dr.) Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, MP for Manhyia on behalf of Mr. John Agyabeng, MP for Agona East who sought to know about the current state of the National Youth Employment Programme.

The Minister explained that 45,235 beneficiaries are currently on the pay roll of the programme and the said beneficiaries are engaged in modules which include Health Extension Worker Module, Youth in Agric-Business Module, Community Protection Unit, Paid Internship and Vocation Jobs, Community Education Assistant and Volunteer Modules.

She however informed the House that a legislation to give the necessary legal backing to the programme to ensure its smooth operations will soon be placed before Parliament for consideration.

The Minister further said that legislative amendments to enable the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP) deduct at source funds meant for the programme will also be considered.

A follow-up question from Dr. Opoku-Prempeh MP for Manhyia enquire why there is inadequate and irregular flow of funds because the Communication Service tax was introduced to source funding for the programme.

The Minister explained that the current flow of funds is inadequate revealing that a 50% increment in the Communication Service tax  therefore, will be introduced to ensure that workers on the National Youth Employment Programme are better paid.

Hon. Isaac Asiamah, MP for Atwima Mponua also sought to know from the Minister why forms for the National Youth Employment Programme were being sold when they should be free.

The Minister rejected the claim saying it had not come to her notice. She nonetheless, urged her colleague to report the matter to the authorities for action to be taken against such perpetrators. 

Later, Hon. Sena Dansua revealed that the completion of the 40-room hotel facility at Tamale and Sekondi Sports stadia, Essipong, has been delayed due of cost implications.

The initial agreed cost of USD 25 million per stadium to be constructed by the Shanghai Group of companies of China was later reviewed to USD 38.5 million during the course of construction but an additional USD 2.5million was also to be incurred to fully complete each Hotel facility incorporated in the design.

She was answering a question filed by the Member for Atwima Nwabiagya, Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio who wanted to know what her Ministry is doing to complete the 40-bedroom Hotel facilities which were incorporated in the design of the Tamale and Takoradi sports stadia.

She however assured Parliament that the Ministry in consultation with Government will soon invite investors to complete the said Hotel facilities on a Build, Operate and Transfer basis.

Sittings Resume Tomorrow.                                                                   

Hon. Dansua Sena Akua: Minister of SportsHon. Dansua Sena Akua