Nkwatia Kwahu, April 12, GNA - Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister has given the assurance that the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) introduced by the previous administration would not stopped by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), administration as being rumoured by some people.

He said the government would rather review the programme alongside the Youth in Agriculture Programme with the hope of generating genuine and sustainable interest in agriculture. Mr Ofusu-Ampofo gave the assurance at a durbar of chiefs and people of Nkwatia in the Kwahu Traditional Area, to climax the activities of the Golden Jubilee celebration of the enstoolment of Nana Atuobi Yiadom IV as Nkwatiahene.

The Regional Minister said the NYEP would be given the needed support to expand and include a greater proportion of the unemployed population in a fair and transparent manner. Mr Ofusu-Ampofo said the government was very much committed to its manifesto of building a better Ghana through job creation, expansion of infrastructure, investing in human capital and providing transparent and accountable leadership.

He said to this end, government would soon come out with policies and programmes that would stimulate and develop the talents and resources of Ghanaians and make them the drivers and beneficiaries of the nation's development agenda.

Mr Ofusu-Ampofo announced that the government had already embarked on various policies and programmes in the education sector towards the achievement of making quality education accessible to all children of school going age.

He explained that, the Ministry of Tourism had not cancelled the paragliding programme but had suspended it for this year because of financial difficulties. Mr Ofusu-Ampofo said a review of the cost involved in organizing the programme; particularly the 2008 edition revealed that, sponsors did run into some financial difficulties.

He said it was against this background that the ministry decided to suspend the programme to allow the major stakeholders to re-strategize and come out with measures that would make paragliding beneficial and profitable to the people of Kwahu.

Nana Atuobi Yiadom IV, who is also the Saanahene of Kwahu Traditional Area, was installed as chief of Nkwatia in 1958 at age 25, making him the youngest chief to have ascended the Yiadom Stoll.

Nana Atuobi commended the people of Nkwatia and Kwahu for supporting him since he was installed chief and urged them to sustain the gesture. He said the area had seen a lot of development during his 50 years reign, which included the building of school blocks, connecting the town to the national electricity grid and the provision of portable water. Nana Atuobi urged the people to continue to live as one people with a common destiny to ensure the development of the area. 12 April 09