NYEP in Kassena-Nankana on course

17-05-2011
The performance of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) in the Kassena-Nankana District of the Upper East Region is said to be having positive impact on the residents in the area as it has contributed in reducing crime and unemployment rate in the district particularly, the youth. The District Coordinator of the NYEP, Karim Mumin who disclosed this to Radio Ghana at Navrongo said the programme has so far engaged more than 50 percent of the youth in the area involving persons with disability. The programme has reiterated has become vibrant since it is currently undergoing massive restructuring to engage more unemployed youth to add up to the existing ones. It is also building the capacity of individuals and beneficiaries to make them productive in their areas of interest. To this effect, 150 young ladies resident in the district are currently undergoing training in the hairdressing model of the programme, whilst 57 of the women engaged in the dressmaking model have passed out and are due for graduation. According to Mr. Mumin, the programme since its inception in the district has so far engaged 350 people under the teaching model with 192 engaged as health extension workers. Additionally, 16 Community Protection Assistance and 10 Prison Service Assistance have also benefited under the programme. The programme he further indicated has benefited a whole lot of individuals including unemployed graduates who are being denied the opportunity to exhibit their academic potentials. Interestingly, the Trade and Vocation model under the programme is currently partnering with the Asongtaba Cottage Industry to provide vocational training to illiterates so as to build their individual capacities. The sector in view of this has employed expertise to offer training to the beneficiaries whilst they are being paid for their services. Mr. Munin said efforts are also being made to introduce new models to fill the loopholes in the programme. He added that the 57 persons with disability engaged under the programme will continue to receive massive support in the form of training so that at the end they will have something to live on. Mr. Mumin mentioned funding as one of their major challenges and expressed the hope that government will ensure the sustainability of the programme by providing the needed funding to augment their activities. He therefore urged all to lend their support for the programme and also take advantage of it to improve their livelihood.
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