GYEDA workers on warpath over delay in salaries

It is becoming increasingly clear that the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), currently known as Ghana Youth Employment Development Agency (GYEDA), which is aimed at reducing the unemployment rate and offer job opportunities to Ghanaians has turned into a deadly albatross around the necks of its staff.

During a casual tour of some departments of the agency in Accra, Today gathered that confusion is brewing at the Ledzekuku-Krowor Municipal Assembly (LEKMA) in Teshie-Nugua of the Greater Accra Region, following a decision by the Assembly not to pay beneficiaries of Eco-Brigade module, under the GYEPA in the municipality.

Though the beneficiaries are entitled to monthly salaries, those attached to the Azomcaba Cottage Industry (ACI), a private waste management company contracted by the central government, to clean the beaches in LEKMA have been working for some months now without pay.

About two hundred and fifty beneficiaries of the Eco Brigade under the GYEDA in most of the coastal areas complained bitterly about their delayed salaries which they argue has not had any concrete response from the authorities to ameliorate their plight.

According to the beneficiaries, who pleaded anonymity, “we have not received our salaries for twelve months,” while others complain of theirs delaying between six and eight months.

“How can we survive under this condition? they quizzed….some of us are single parents looking after our kids, we pay rent, we buy water and soap, but as we speak I have stopped wearing underwear because there is nothing to live on, than to be at the mercy or grace of friends and family,” a livid worker cried out.

A 42-year-old lady who looked dejected, said, “I look after my ailing mum alone though my work is hand to mouth…I have been managing, but the past six months have been hell, and thinking of either opting for prostitution or selling iced water…my mum must not die in this condition.’’

The depressed workers around the Teshie-Nugua municipality, namely Koko Beach, Akapopo, and Nungua Korle-Gonor, alleged that all effort to get information from their superiors have proven futile, with neither the National Coordinator, Mr. Abuga Pele, nor his deputy is coming to address them…“they don’t respect us; they don’t treat us with dignity and respect. It’s a pity.’’

The beneficiaries disclosed that per the contractual agreement, they were supposed to have been paid GH¢100 a month, but instead receive GH¢ 90. Speaker-after-speaker complained that “We want to tell you that grapevine information indicates that if we are not paid before December 7, then, perhaps we might kiss our salaries good bye.”

The beneficiaries, in an interview, pointed out that the authorities usually threaten to dismiss them when they complain about the issue.

When contacted, the LEKMA Coordinator of the GYEDA, Mr. Norman, confirmed the non-payments of salaries to the beneficiaries adding that the issues came to his attention recently.

But, he was quick to deny them owing them over six months pay, stating that “My brother what I can tell you as the LEKMA coordinator of the GYEDA is that the authorities had paid two months salaries to beneficiaries whose services were engaged in March this year and therefore left with about five months arrears so it is not true that the beneficiaries have not received their salaries for twelve and eight months as claimed.”

He told Today that those purporting to be employees of the GYEDA who went to the media to make allegations of non-payment of salaries were not genuine beneficiaries but rather “mischievous individuals who are out there playing politics.”

Explaining further, Mr. Norman said the problem had nothing to do with the lack of funds but rather beneficiaries who failed to furnish management with the necessary documentation after the programme’s periodic head counting exercise.

Mr. Norman also described as untrue the allegation by the beneficiaries that some zonal supervisors are in bed with the authorities and allegedly taking a lion share of the money from the authorities “and the authorities have not threatened to dismiss them for complaining.”

“This is a calculated attempt to soil the hard won image of the authorities as well as the supervisors,” he stated.

According to Mr. Norman, the beneficiaries were made aware during the period of orientation that salaries due them will some time delay due to the bureaucratic processing arrangement of the salary from the bank.

He however assured that plans were afoot to clear all outstanding salary arrears due the GYEDA beneficiaries within this month.

This, according to him, is to put to rest agitations by the beneficiaries over delays in the payment of salaries.

The ACI Coordinator for the Eco Brigade of the GYEDA within the Teshie-Nungua municipality, Hon. Alfred Layea, refuted widespread assertions from the beneficiaries that their outstanding monthly salaries are going to be impossible to claim if it was not paid before the December 7 elections.

Hon. Layea who is the Assemblyman for Nii Odai Ablade Electoral Area at Teshie-Nungua, further debunked the assertions that the authorities have remained silent about their plight and called on the general public to treat the said allegation with the contempt it deserves.

He however mentioned that a four-member delegation from the headquarters of the ACI visited the Teshie-Nungua municipality about a few weeks ago to ascertain the actual number of beneficiaries in the programme have not yet received their salaries.