Nyinahin (Ash), June 29, GNA- The Government has paid 1.7 billion cedis as salaries to 327 community teaching assistants employed under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) in the Atwima-Mponua district during the past eight months.

An amount of 250 million cedis has also been disbursed to 250 farmers under the Youth in Agriculture programme to expand their farms. Mr Collins Addai, the District Co-ordinator of the NYEP, who made this known to the Ghana News Agency at Nyinahin, said 70 people have been engaged as health extension workers and are receiving training. On sanitation and community policing modules, he said 35 and 60 youth respectively have been selected and would soon start their training, making the total youth employed so far to 742 in the district. Mr Addai appealed to the fortunate youth especially the teachers to work hard, avoid lateness, absenteeism and indiscipline to help raise educational standard in the area.

He commended the government for introducing the programme which has helped reduce unemployment and crime in the district.