'NYEP must be maintained'

Spread, Wed, Feb 18, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah

THE Minister designate for Employment and Social Welfare, Mr Stephen Amoanor Kwao, yesterday lauded the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), describing it as a good programme that must be maintained.
He said out of the 10 modules that had been instituted under the programme, eight were doing very well and gave the assurance that if given the nod, he would work towards ensuring that it became more effective.
The minister designate gave the assurance when he appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament to be vetted.
Mr Kwao identified the Teaching and Nursing Assistantship module as one of the modules that had made significant contributions to the development of the country.
He said the NDC was determined to create jobs for Ghanaians and the NYEP would serve as a good programme to help in the provision of jobs for Ghanaians.
When asked whether the NDC’s vision to provide jobs for all Ghanaians was not utopian, the minister designate explained that in life one had to aim high.
He stated that if given the nod, he would liaise with his counterpart at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to find out how best small-scale miners, popularly referred to as galamsey operators, would be trained to enable them to maximise the benefits of their operations and also make them more environmentally friendly.
The MP for Upper Manya also touched on the issue of orphanages and homes in the country and identified poor supervision as one of the challenges that must be addressed in order to ensure that the rights of children were not abused.
The minister designate said if given the nod, he would liaise with the appropriate authorities to ensure that rules and regulations guiding the establishment and operation of orphanages and children’s home were strictly enforced.
He said he would work towards the enforcement of the Children’s Act, stressing that it was important to provide a congenial environment and conditions for the development of children.
He denounced the exploitation of children by way of child labour and said there was the need for a concerted effort on the part of the various stakeholders to address the issue.
“People don’t have feelings for these children and together we can fight this canker,” he stated.
When he took his turn, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture designate, Mr Alex Asum-Ahensah, who appeared in a beautiful Kente cloth, said it was good for the framers of the Constitution to debar chiefs from actively taking part in politics.
He noted that since the subjects of chiefs cut across political boundaries, that provision in the Constitution should not be changed in order to keep the sanctity of the chieftaincy institution.
Also vetted was the Minister designate for the Presidency, Hajia Halutie Dabie Alhassan, who is also the MP for Sissala East.