Saltpond (C/R), March 6, GNA - A National Youth Policy is being fashioned out to give proper direction to the development of the youth in the country.

To this end, the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) is being reorganised to make it more relevant and beneficial not only to the youth themselves but also to the nation. Mr. Henry Kweku Hayfron, Mfantseman Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), was addressing a parade of school children at Saltpond to mark the 53rd Anniversary of Ghana's Independence. The theme for the Anniversary was: "Investing in Ghanaian Youth for a Better Ghana". He said currently 1,029 youth had been employed under the NYEP in the municipality.

The MCE said plans had been completed for the Youth-In-Agriculture Programme to take off in the municipality. He said a tract of land had been acquired along the Baifikrom Irrigation Project near Mankessim to enable those who would participate in the programme to get water to do year-round farming.

Mr. Hayfron said the Municipal Assembly had entered into an exchange programme between the youth of the municipality and their counterparts in Canada under which 18 students from Canada are presently in two communities; Otuam and Saltpond, working in Health and Education. He said Students and Youth Travel Organisation (SYTO) and Canada World Youth (CWY) were responsible for the exchange programme which had a five-year duration and each visit is to last for 12 weeks. He said students from the municipality would also have the opportunity to travel to Canada under the programme.

Mr. Hayfron said whilst the government was doing everything possible for Ghanaian children to acquire the needed knowledge, skills and attitude, parents and guardians must not shirk their responsibilities; they also have to sacrifice and invest in their children. The MCE urged the youth to assure the government that the investment it was making would be worthwhile by refraining from vices such as drug abuse, lust for quick money leading to internet frauds, armed robbery, teenage pregnancy and others.

He said the Ghanaian democracy was growing and people should not allow differences to thwart the development efforts. "Let us manage the differences well to promote unity in diversity," he said.

Prizes were presented to schools which excelled in the march past. In the Primary Division, Saltpond Methodist 'B' came first followed by Catholic Girls and Zion. In the Junior High School Division, Catholic School placed first followed by Ahmadiyya and Zion. In Senior High School Division, Mankessim Obama College came first, with the second place going to Biriwa Vocational Training and Rehabilitation Centre whilst Saltpond Hariom International took the third position. 6 March 10