Hunger is killing us slowly whilst we are working hard; pay our 7-months arrears’ – NABCO trainees to gov’t

The Ghanaian Nation Builders’ Corps (NABCo) Trainees Association has petitioned the government to pay allowances to its members who have been stationed in areas for the previous seven months.

“They have been thrown into a point of no hope as the administration has turned a deaf ear to the critical challenges,” the trainees said in a statement.

They claimed that the situation on the ground does not reflect the government’s promises to invest in the youth through creating jobs.

“We’re asking the government a basic question: despite being informed of the impending arrears/permanent agreement, how long will it last?”

“We are starving to death and may not live to see the economy recover due to the nonpayment of seven months’ arrears”

In 2018, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo launched the NABCo initiative to employ some 100,000 jobless graduates.

The programme operates seven modules designed to meet the pressing needs of the nation, while providing jobs for the teeming youth who have received tertiary education but are struggling to find jobs.

The beneficiaries were engaged for three years and earned a monthly stipend of GH¢700 each.

The three-year-long contract with over 100,000 beneficiaries under six modules ended in October 2021.

But the government instructed various agencies to maintain these beneficiaries as steps were taken to finalise their exit.

Amongst the options for the beneficiaries were for them to be maintained, continue their education, or venture into their own businesses.

But the trainees are complaining that the government is not paying attention to those who want to be maintained.