Beneficiaries of the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) programme say they are going through difficult times and may die out of excruciating hunger due to government’s failure the pay their 7-month arrears.
The 3-year programme which was introduced by the current government to address the challenges of youth unemployment ended in October last. Even though the trainees were asked to stay at post, the government has failed to settle 7 months’ arrears owed the trainees.
The trainees in a statement signed by Dennis Katakyie, the President of National President of the NABCO Trainees Association of Ghana (NABTAG) say they are dying of hunger and may not live to see the economy bounce back, due to the non-payment of the 7 months arrears.
“Following numerous calls on the government to attend to NABCO Trainees, which have not been given the much attention spanning about seven (7) months since the expiration of the three-year engagement on the scheme, NABCO Trainees Association of Ghana (NABTAG) is registering its dissatisfaction with how things have been held in hiatus. Trainees have been plunged into a point of ‘no hope’ as the government has given ‘death ears’ to the pressing issues.”
The statement applauded the government for introducing the programme which they say has helped beneficiaries acquire employable skills and experience for the past 3 years.
President Akufo-Addo while addressing a gathering at the National Theater in October 2019 to mark the first anniversary of the implementation of the policy charged state agencies to consider NABCO trainees first whenever there are job openings in their various institutions.
But NABTAG believes the ultimate goal of reducing graduate unemployment cannot be materialized if these beneficiaries who were directed to remain at post, pending permanency arrangements are not absorbed into the mainstream work as once promised by the President.
“There have been a series of calls on the government in lieu of the permanent employment arrangement but to no avail. The current situation is disturbing beyond measure, coupled with almost seven (7) months of arrears”, the statement added.
The NABTAG statement sighted by A1 Radio indicated that the situation on the ground is not reflective of the promise made to invest in the youth through job creation.
“We are asking the government this simple question: although we have been told of the soon-to-come arrears/permanent arrangement, until when?”
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Bolgatanga|Ghana
