Beneficiaries of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) are facing untold hardships due to the non-payment of their allowances for nine months. Despite their struggles, the agency, led by CEO Malik Basantali, continues to recruit new beneficiaries, raising concerns about the management of the program.
The YEA was established to provide employment opportunities for young Ghanaians, with the goal of reducing unemployment and poverty. However, the failure of the agency to pay beneficiaries their allowances has rendered the program ineffective, leaving many to struggle financially.
“It’s been nine months since I last received my allowance,” said Richard Odjer, Chairman of YEA National beneficiaries in a statement he issued in Accra. “I’m struggling to make ends meet and it’s affecting my ability to take care of my family,” he added.
He further stated, “We’re not asking for much, just our allowances so we can survive. But it seems like the CEO and his team don’t care about our plight.”
The continued recruitment of new beneficiaries despite the unpaid allowances has raised questions about the management of the program.
“It’s like they’re just using us for their own gain. They are recruiting new people, but what about us? Don’t we deserve to be paid?”
The YEA’s failure to pay beneficiaries their allowances has also led to concerns about mismanagement.
“Where is the money going?”, he asked and called on the government to intervene on their behalf.
