At a time when women empowerment is synonymous with national development, many young women in search of job are falling victim to sexual advances from male employers. One of the organizations, where such crime is being perpetrated is the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), which was set up to provide employment for the Ghanaian youth.

Economic Tribune learnt that some NYEP Co-ordinators have been demanding sex from many ladies before giving them appointment, a situation, our sources said is bedeviling the success of the programme.

The Deputy National Coordinator of NYEP, Murtala Mohammed, who confirmed the story, told Economic Tribune an investigation into the matter is ongoing, adding that, Co-ordinators found to be involved in such immoral act would be sacked to serve as a warning to others.

“It is absolutely not moral for any NYEP Coordinator to take advantage of a young girl, who is desperately in need of a job or harass any female beneficiary at NYEP sexually,” Mr Murtala said, stressing that, measures are being put in place to arrest all the bottlenecks at his outfit.

He said so far, NYEP has deleted over 5,000 ghost names on its payroll. The names, he noted, included people who were not working but receiving allowances. It also included names that were forged on the list of beneficiaries by some District and Metropolitan Co-ordinators of the NYEP. Mr Mutala said after a series of investigation, it was revealed that some of the NYEP Co-ordinators were conniving with beneficiaries to take allowances from the programme.

“Some of the beneficiaries had vacated their post for more than six months but with the connivance with some Co-ordinators, they were still taking their allowance,” he disclosed.

Economic Tribune further learnt some people who were given appointment letters but did not show up at their various posts still have their names on the NYEP payroll and are still receiving monthly allowance. Mr. Murtala cited an instance where one of the Deputy Coordinators of the programme connived with some beneficiaries to rob NYEP of GHC 20,000.

“Some of the Co-ordinators were even taxing beneficiaries (deducting money from their allowance) without the consent of the authorities,” he added, warning that, those who are found to be involved in any fraudulent act would be prosecuted and asked to refund the money.