Tarzan challenges gov’t to make GYEEDA report public

Chief Policy Analyst at the Ghana Institute of Public Policy Options, Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby, has challenged government to make the investigative report on GYEEDA Public.

Following Joy FM’s investigations that revealed systematic corruption and questionable contracts at the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency, government set up a committee to investigate and review the programme.

The 5-member committee on Tuesday July 16 presented its report to the president at the Flagstaff House.

The president promised that the recommendations contained in the report will be studied carefully and a review of GYEEDA's operations immediately undertaken.

But speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Dr Wereko-Brobby said the president must publish the report if he is really serious about acting on it.

“Here we are being told that action would be taken et cetera, et cetera; go back to the first Article of our Constitution, politicians in government are acting in our name and on our behalf…so if you work in our name and on our behalf, share all the stuff with us,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, policy think tank, IMANI Ghana, says it has put together a proposal on how to restructure GYEEDA.

Their proposal comes less than 24 hours after the president’s promise on Tuesday to radically reform the agency.

In May this year when the allegations of corruption were uncovered at GYEEDA, IMANI Ghana suggested that government must discontinue the programme.

Kofi Bentil, Vice President of the public policy think tank, said they still stand by their earlier suggestion.

According to Mr Bentil, the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare is better positioned to do what GYEEDA is currently doing.

“There is no need for the creation of GYEEDA, there is no need for transfer of money to a third-party...to pay anybody,” he said, insisting that the existing structures at the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare can replace the programme.

According to him, a “coupon system” which beneficiaries could redeem for either training or employment would cost less and not require an agency such as GYEEDA which has become a bottomless pit into which money is sunk.