The Daily Graphic describes the Agricultural Development Bank’s agreement to provide financial management services for the National Youth Employment Programme as a major boost for the programme. Under the agreement signed between the bank and the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment, ADB is expected to open accounts for about 108 thousand employees of the Programme across the country and effect the payment of their monthly allowances until the bank is re-imbursed by government. The Graphic believes that this initiative can be nurtured to provide jobs for the teeming mass of unemployed youth in the country. It calls for the efficient management of the programme in order to sustain it, and reduce the frustrations and hardships that some of the employees of the programme have endured as result of delays in payment. The paper also calls on Ghanaians to avoid the negative propaganda about the programme and instead support it to achieve its objectives. While commending the ADB Bank and government, the Graphic, emphasis that it will be vital to look beyond the Memorandum of Understanding so that, in future the programme can be mainstreamed into the public service administration of the country.
The Ghanaian Times editorials is entitled “The Menace of Vote Buying”. The paper describes the practice of vote buying used by some political parties as a canker that needs to be eliminated from the country’s electoral system. The Times believes the systematic education by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and political parties is the best way to address the problem. It emphasizes that it is time for those who are guilty of such acts to be exposed and dealt with according to the law.
The Statesman appeals to leaders of political parties to closely monitor their followers and bring them to immediate order whenever they are seen provoking their opponents, to avoid any disaster. It also urges political parties to deal with issues that affect lives of the people rather than launching personal attacks on their political opponents. The Statesman is particularly interested in a peaceful election and therefore urges the Electoral Commission to also do its best to ensure that no one or no group of people feel cheated after the well-orchestrated polls.
The Network Herald calls on the EC to be careful in the collation of electoral results. To the paper, the EC’s position that the alleged bloated voters register in the Ashanti Region is due to human errors on the part of its ICT department is disturbing. The paper suggests that the EC builds a permanent database to avid such discrepancies.
The Chronicle is saddened by the news that a number of trained teachers are abandoning the classrooms in pursuit of other professions which are more rewarding. The paper, though saddened by this trend says, it is not surprise at the situation especially when the teacher’s profession has become a thankless job. The Chronicle urges government to pay attention to the teachers and improve their lot.
