Bolgatanga, April 11, GNA - Youth in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region who have gained employment under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) introduced by the government have commended the government for the exercise.

They made the commendation on Wednesday in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Bolgatanga.

Most of them said the NYEP had become a relief to them and their families and that it would also engage them profitably at home rather than travelling to the south in search of non-existent jobs. Most of those who had started receiving salaries indicated that they were preparing to register for the West African Examination Council Certificate (WAEC) to better their grades, which they could not have done without the NYEP assistance. Others said the introduction of the Programme had also prevented them from idling, which often led them into anti-social vices.

Mr Abire Alolga, Municipal Co-ordinating Director of the NYEP, announced that another batch of the NYEP recruits who opted for job as health assistants were currently undergoing two weeks intensive theoretical training at the Bolgatanga Municipal Health Directorate. They would undergo another four weeks practical training at the Bolgatanga Central Hospital aimed at equipping them practically on how to effectively handle patients.

According to him, they would be posted to health centres after the four weeks intensive practical training to serve as health assistants. This, he said would help augment the strength of staff of health workers in the Region.

Parents of most of the beneficiaries the GNA interviewed expressed appreciation to the government for introducing the programme and said it would help ease the burden on them since their children were employed and could fend for themselves.