Chairperson of Convention Peoples’ Party (CPP), Nana Akosua Frimpongmaa, has given government three weeks ultimatum to refund monies to the youth seeking employment in state owned agencies in the country.

According to her, these youth had to purchase application forms worth GHC100 to be considered for employment. By this, Madam Frimpongmaa describes government’s action as one encouraging corruption via extortion of monies from the youth.

Speaking at a press conference, she noted that the party will be forced to drag government to court should they fail to heed their call.

“I’m expected to pay GHC100 to apply for a job as a young person and youth of this country, that is why I’m here today, representing the youth. This is extortion at its peak. I am appealing to the President of this country to immediately look into this particular text I got if it’s true. I have spoken to one or two people and it’s concluded that’s the practice today. Even me as a private sector, I find it so appalling and difficult when I’m asking people to apply for jobs here to ask them to take an application form.

“I am giving the institutions until the 21^st of September… if it doesn’t happen, they will see the anger of the youth…”.
Nana Akosua Frimpongmaa

Government fomenting corruption

Furthermore, the CPP Chairperson bemoaned the current state of the economy which she reckoned government was trying to take advantage of.

As such, it is unheard of for the state to request such monies from the youth when “private sector has collapsed”.

“… So, a lot of young people are unemployed looking for jobs and so everybody runs to the state for employment. You are asking them to pay GHC100 just to find a job and that is if they are lucky and we don’t know why there’s corruption in this country? We don’t know why the people get to the job and they don’t have any connection or patriotism towards the nation? I want to ask the nation, I want to ask this institution, what is their focus?”
Nana Akosua Frimpongmaa

She further questioned the intention of government and the implication of their actions on the youth.

“Are they trying to build a nation… that really is competitive… or they have completely forgotten the reason they are there? Indeed, if you charge young people this amount of money… once they get there, they will have no connection to the work they are doing. Everything has been monetised [and] we need to do something about it”.
Nana Akosua Frimpongmaa

Patriotism of the youth

Madam Frimpongmaa equally highlighted the significance of inculcating in the youth a patriotic spirit. She admitted that although it may seem belated for her party to intervene, they thrive as a “human-centred” party to intervene.

“We believe in the welfare and any policy that comes must be geared towards the welfare of the people. It must have long term vision and impact on the society. If today, a young person is looking for a job, it’s insane.

“It shouldn’t be a privilege you go and pay money. We should have young people that will serve this nation. Police Service is a service to the nation. Military, customs… every service like that is a state service and we should have young people who want to come in there and want to serve”.
Nana Akosua Frimpongmaa