Talk Time Tax Now 60%

Mr. Abuga Pele - National Coordinator, NYEP

Government has increased the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) share of the talk time tax from 20 to 60 percent, as part of efforts to establish a firm source of funding for the operations of youth employment programs in the country.

The increase, which takes effect from April 1, 2011,would give the NYEP a regular monthly amount of about GH¢ 4.5 million, Abuga Pele, National Coordinator of the NYEP has indicated.

Mr. Pele expressed joy that the measure represented a big boost to the youth programs of the NYEP, an indication that the government had fulfilled its promise to revamp and make the programme sustainable.

He said though the money accrued from the tax might not be adequate for the entire operations of NYEP programs in the country, it was a good beginning and that other sources of funding would still be explored to support the programs.

He said the payment of allowances to beneficiaries would improve, adding 'Government must be highly commended for such a bold step to support funding of youth programs.'

'This is an example worth emulating in the sub-region to avert social instability, which is partly caused by lack of employment,' he said, appealing to other funding agency to release funds regularly to support the programme.

Mr. Pele called on other funding agencies to release their budgetary allocation to the NYEP to enhance operation and alleviate the plight of beneficiaries who are contributing their quota to nation building.

It would be recalled that the presidency directed the Ministry of Roads and Highway, the GETFund and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to release their 10 per cent budgetary allocations to the NYEP 'without any further delay to help remove bottlenecks in NYEP operations and place it on a sound footing to support the government's 'Better Ghana' Agenda.

Currently the NYEP has engaged some 100,000 youth under its various modules. The World Bank, as part of the youth enterprise project, is providing $65 million to help train the youth to enable them set up their own businesses.