Over 700 million cedis PAF locked up with individuals

Winneba, June 15, GNA - Over 700 million cedis being part of the Poverty Alleviate Fund (PAF) given to some people in the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District has not been paid back since the introduction of the fund. This has made it impossible for many other people to benefit from the programme and also defeated the aims and objectives for which the PAF was established. Mr Solomon Kwashie Abban-Quaye, the new District Chief Executive, said this when he addressed the second Youth Mock Assembly at Winneba on Tuesday. The Mock Assembly was organized by the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District Secretariat of the National Youth Council in collaboration with the African Youth Alliance (AYA) to enable the youth to discuss issues affecting them and present a resolution to the authorities of the district for redress.

It was under the theme "Youth participation in decision making can make a difference".

Among the topics discussed by the Mock Assembly were teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortion, premarital sex and sexually transmitted infection (STI) including HIV/AIDS. Mr Abban-Quaye urged the people to pay back the loan and also honour their tax obligations to enable the assembly to generate enough revenue for more development.

Mr Kwesi Esseku, the Presiding Member of the Assembly, commended the excellent performance of the children and gave the assurance that the assembly would incorporate the youth Mock Assembly programme into the district assembly's budget so that it could be held annually. Mr Emmanuel Sodja Martey, the District Youth Co-ordinator of the NYC, said plans are far advance to rotate the programme to the other communities in the district to inspire the rural youth and appealed to parents and NGOs to support the programme.