Pusu-Namo(UER), July 04, GNA - Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment on Wednesday denied that the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) was instituted to create jobs for members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Chief Maasu Issifu, Deputy National Coordinator in charge of the three northern regions announced this in an address read on behalf of Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, the Sector Minister at a four-day induction course for 600 youth drawn from the three northern regions at Pusu-Namo in Upper East Region.

They would be posted as interns to the Non-Formal Education Sector in Northern, Upper East and West Regions.

"We wish to make it clear that registration for the youth programme is non-partisan and no party cards are demanded as a pre-requisite for participation in any of the modules. The forms are free and many people have registered and benefited from the programme including most sympathisers of National Democratic Congress (NDC)," he added. Alhaji Boniface said Government had identified the youth as an asset and laying the foundation for them to be well educated and trained for economic and social development.

He explained that NYEP was collaborating with Non -Formal Education Division (NFED) of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports because it had been realised that NFED had been one of the avenues through which illiteracy, disease, hunger and poverty could be addressed. Mr Samuel Salifu, National Director of NFED, asked the youth to take advantage of the programme and work hard when posted to the communities.

He said Government attached more attention to improve the quality of literacy services to reduce the burden on illiterates and accelerate the country's development.