YEA Deputy CEO explains why Zoomlion Sanitation Model payment can’t be paid as minimum wage Ibrahim Bashiru- YEA Deputy CEO
Opinion

YEA Deputy CEO explains why Zoomlion Sanitation Model payment can’t be paid as minimum wage

If you are wondering why officials Youth Employment Agency (YEA) Zoomlion Sanitation Model payment are not calculated by the country’s minimum wage, read the explanation given by the YEA Deputy Chief Executive Ibrahim Bashiru. The payment received by officials of the Zoomlion Sanitation Model has raised concerns among Ghanaians. Haruna Iddrisu, the former Minority Leader, has called for action to rectify the disparities in compensation faced by sanitation workers employed by Zoomlion Ghana Limited. He suggested a direct payment system, where the government compensates the workers instead of going through Zoomlion. During discussions in Parliament, Iddrisu emphasized the need for funds allocated for sanitation services to reach the workers directly. In response to questions about why the officials are not paid based on Ghana’s minimum wage, the Deputy CEO of the Youth Employment Agency explained that the unique nature of the sanitation model, where workers only work for a few hours each day, makes it impractical to use the minimum wage as a basis for payment calculations. “The minimum is calculated based on number of hours you worked. This sanitation model is very unique model because they work for only 2 hours and some even work for only an hour and some work for only 30 minutes. So, how do you use minimum wage as a basis to monitor they do?” “Don’t forget that in our agreement with Zoomlion we have told them that the people will work for 2 hours per day, some work for 1 hour. So, if you worked for 1 hour a day, it means in a month you have worked for 20 hours. A normal worker work for how many hours per day? 8 hours times 20 that is 160 hours but these people work for 20 hours and that is how come we don’t use the minimum wage”. Former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, has added his voice by calling for an urgent action from both the State and Parliament to rectify the disparities in compensation faced by sanitation workers employed by Zoomlion Ghana Limited. Expressing concern over the significant gap between the state’s payment of approximately GH₵800 to Zoomlion and the much lower remuneration (less than GH₵300) received by the workers, Iddrisu proposed a direct payment system. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0256336062    

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YEA to introduce Business and Employment Assistant Program (BEAP)
Business

YEA to introduce Business and Employment Assistant Program (BEAP)

On December 11, 2023, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia launched the Business and Employment Assistant Program (BEAP) in Sunyani. He urged the management of the Youth Employment Agency (Y.E.A), led by Mr. Kofi Baah Agyepong, to quickly implement the program. In response, the Y.E.A management has decided to conduct a nationwide sensitization campaign on the program. Due to the economic recovery challenges faced by Ghana and many other countries following the COVID-19 pandemic, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have been severely affected. This has hindered their ability to expand their businesses and provide employment opportunities for young Ghanaians. The post-COVID-19 recovery period has resulted in a surge in youth unemployment, causing discontent among governments worldwide. Addressing the issue on behalf of YEA CEO, Alhaji Ibrahim Bashiru told journalists in Bolgatanga that the Youth Employment Agency has developed a Business and Employment Support Program. “This program aims to help SMEs grow by providing skilled workers, hiring more youth, and supporting business sustainability during these challenging times”. He said According to the Deputy CEO, the Business and Employment Assistance Program (BEAP) offers employers (MSMEs) the opportunity to re-hire laid-off employees, hire new employees, and connect with job applicants through the Y.E.A Job Centre. The program provides monthly support of up to GHS 500 per employee to businesses, offers pre-employment and work readiness training to beneficiaries, and assists with recruitment and selection of youth. “The target population for the program includes youth aged 16-35, with priority given to Persons with Disabilities (PWD) and women-led businesses. To access the program, employers and job seekers can contact their nearest Y.E.A Job Centre or visit the website www.yeajobcentre.com for more information”. “Eligible job seekers must be unemployed and identified through the Y.E.A Job Centre or an eligible employer. Employers must be registered businesses in Ghana, comply with all relevant legislation including tax and SSNIT, be able to recall laid-off employees, and demonstrate their ability to co-pay beneficiary compensation”. Sharing some of their past year achievement, he said the Y.E.A has achieved various milestones in the past year, including the Community Protection Assistants (C.P.A) program, Community Health Workers (CHeW), Entrepreneurship Training (NEIP), and partnerships with organizations such as the Ghana Library Authority and National Labour Commission. They are also planning to conduct training programs for artisans, promote youth engagement in agriculture and ICT, and implement the BEAP. The BEAP is a timely initiative aimed at addressing Ghana’s economic challenges and the global projections of slow growth. The government has allocated GH₵ 120 million for the program, with the goal of supporting 10,000 SMEs and providing job opportunities for 20,000 young people. The program’s objectives are job retention, youth employment, SME sustainability, and economic resilience. It aims to safeguard jobs, enhance employment, and promote business stability, ultimately strengthening Ghana’s economic resilience. Meanwhile, Alhaji Bashiru added, that the success of the BEAP relies on the collective efforts of stakeholders, including participating MSMEs, government agencies, financial institutions, and civil society organizations. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0256336062

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Breaking News: YEA Announced End of Contract to Beneficiaries
Opinion, Politics

Breaking News: YEA Announced End of Contract to Beneficiaries

The latest release from the office of YEA says, “Management of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) wishes to inform all community Protection Assistants (CPAs) Module Beneficiaries and that of School Support Module that their service of engagement with the Agency officially ends this month 31st August, 2022” Read the full statement below Source: Apexnewsgh.com

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Youth Employment Agency secures GHS10 million for startups Justine Koduah, Youth Employment Agency
Opinion

Youth Employment Agency secures GHS10 million for startups

The chief executive officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Mr Justin Kodua Frimpong, has said his office has secured funding of GHS10 million to support entrepreneurs who have viable business proposals. The YEA, he noted, through this fund, will give technical or financial support, or both, to startups. The CEO made these disclosures at the launch of the two-day Regional Job, Career, and Entrepreneurship Fair in the Ashanti Region on the theme, ‘Bridging the Job Gap in Partnership with the Private Sector’. Mr Kodua noted that the fund to support entrepreneurs falls under one of the four policies put in place by the YEA to address youth unemployment. This project, he intimated, will see various business plans being vetted by officials of the YEA with excellent business ideas receiving startup support. The CEO said, “as part of the fair, the entrepreneurship team will be perusing your business plans; they’ll be having discussions with you on how your business plans and ideas can work; and again, the agency can assure you that at the end of the day, those whose business ideas will excel, together with our partners, NEIP, we have allocated GHS10 million to support new set up businesses in this country”. The YEA boss entreated the youth who had gathered at the job fair to pay attention to the details of the activities that will transpire at the two-day forum. He gave the assurance that those who will participate in the job fair will definitely leave with an idea or an opportunity to explore jobs. Mr Kodua noted: “Make sure you leave here with something. At least, if you don’t get employed today, you should leave here having qualified for the free startup that we are going to give to the young men and women.” A total of 1,307 job vacancies are expected to be filled by the 119 employers at the job fair. Among the activities that are expected to be run at the fair is the Curriculum Vitae (CV) Clinic, where patrons will be taught how to properly present their CVs and a career coaching segment where patrons will be taken through mock interview sessions. —classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

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UER: Familiarity breeding contempt to our message on SRHR- Peer educators cries out.
Education

UER: Familiarity breeding contempt to our message on SRHR- Peer educators cries out.

Peer Educators from the Bongo District have expressed concern about over-familiarity with members of the community that is affecting the reception and response to their message on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the District. They complain about the apathy expressed by some members of the community is a great disincentive to educating their peers on matters of Drug abuse, teenage pregnancy amongst other issues of concern in the District. A Peer Educator John Ayamga made this known in an interview on the sidelines of a review meeting for 50 Peer Educators on sexual and reproductive health and rights activities in six districts in the Upper East region held in Bolgatanga. While citing the lack of formal introduction by the National Youth Authority to the communities, the lack of dedicated funding as well as personal protective equipment as other challenges confronting the Peer Educators, Mr. Ayamga maintained in spite of the many challenges the Peer Educator usually cease the opportunity at youth meetings, community gatherings as well phone-in segment on Radio programs to put their message across. When contacted the Upper East Regional Director of the National Youth Authority, Francis Takyi Koranteng acknowledged the challenges following his familiarization tour to some of the districts, adding the concerns will be channeled to the appropriate quarters for the needed attention to resource the peer educators. He encouraged peer educators to make reports and footages of their activities in their various communities to serve as a document that can be used to seek support from donors.  The National Youth Authority is a co-implementor with the Regional Coordinating Council implementing the government of Ghana and UNDFP 2018-2022 country program for youth representatives in Talensi, Bongo, Nabdam, Bawku West, Builsa south, and Kassena Nankana West Districts of the Upper East Region. The UNDF sponsored comprehensive sexuality education aims at helping youth between 15 and 19 years old to make informed choices and to create awareness at the Community level for all stakeholders to appreciate the challenges and traditional phenomenon that hinders young people’s access to information, services, and supplies they need to make a safe, healthy and fulfilling transition to adulthood. The Upper East Regional Director of the National Youth Authority observed that there had been a remarkable improvement in some aspects of adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights in the country, saying most girls spend time on educational progression and employable skills acquisition. Speaking at a review meeting for 50 Peer Educators on sexual and reproductive health and rights activities in six districts in the Upper East region he expressed excitement that harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation, trokosi system, limitation of girls to the kitchen or baby care rooms have reduced admitting that more effort to be done. The meeting organized by the National Youth Authority and the regional coordinating council under the government of Ghana and UNDFP 2018-2022 country programme for youth representatives in six Districts. Mr. Takyi Koranteng further urged all new and existing youth-focused organizations in the region to register with the National Youth Authority for the needed recognition on their database in order to benefit from policies and programmes of the Authority. The National Youth Authority has since October 5, 2020, begun processes to re-register all existing and registration of all newly formed youth-focused organizations at the community, district and regional level in line with Section 25 of the National Youth Authority Act. This is part of their mandate to compile an up to date comprehensive and reliable database to ensure purposeful and more effective coordination of youth development and empowerment intervention and to effectively regulate the youth sector. This will lead to the formation of the Ghana Youth Federation in fulfillment of section 3 (d) of Act 939. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/contributor Prosper Adankai Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications    

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FEATURE: LIVILIHOOD ARTISANAL TRADE AND VOCATION SKILL TRAINING
Opinion

FEATURE: LIVILIHOOD ARTISANAL TRADE AND VOCATION SKILL TRAINING

The United Nation Sustainable Development Goal 4: specifies inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunity for all by 2030, and there is a need to substantial increase in the number of youth and adult with relevant skills to gain good employment, acquire decent jobs and pursue entrepreneurial skills. One of the flagship programs of the National Youth Authority is the Skill towards Employment and Productivity (STEP) Programme seeks to provide job for skilled unemployed youth between the ages of 18 to 35 to help mitigate the economic impact of COVID 19. The intervention also known as the Livelihood Artisanal Trade and Vocational Skill Training is tailor made to give training to the youth who have some skills but needs polish up on basic financial management, marketing and branding, leadership and team work to turn into entrepreneurship and employment opportunities. The Upper East Regional Director of the National Youth Authority Francis Takyi Koranteng in an interview indicated that as part of the programme, every region and district have been given quota to recruit skilled but unemployed youth within their operational areas for a two weeks generic training after signing up for this project. Mr Takyi Koranteng encouraged qualified youth to pick up forms from the District offices of the National Youth Authority adding apart from building networks and gaining visibility for their works, beneficiaries of the project will get start up tools as well as have work places rented out to them. He explained the modalities after one has signed up for the Skill towards Employment and Productivity (STEP) Programme. Another flagship programme of the National Youth Authority is the Youth and Leadership Training Institute that provide relevant skill training to the youth to gain employment, decent job and pursue entrepreneurship. Here in the Upper East Region we have the Sandema Youth Leadership and Skills Training Institute and in the North East Region there is the Nalerigu Youth Leadership and Skills Training Institute. Like many of our state-owned institutions these training institutes are bedeviled with teething challenges but for all intent and purpose, the reasoning behind their setting up is noble. Recently Ghana joined the rest of Africa to celebrate the youth on the occasion of the Africa Youth Week set aside by the African Union Commission to promote an increased awareness and recognition of young Africans as critical agents of positive change. There was clarion call to enhance the development and empowering of Ghanaian youth through various activities and programs.  Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/ Contributor Prosper Adaakai Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications.      

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