By Elizabeth Abban
Tamale, Oct 17, GNA – The Youth Budget Monitors under the Northern Regional Youth Network, with support from YEFL-Ghana has raised concerns over the steady decline in statutory allocations from the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to the National Youth Authority (NYA) and the Youth Employment Agency (YEA).
They argued that the trend undermined efforts to promote youth empowerment, skills training, and employment across the country.
The Youth Budget Monitors raised concerns at a press conference in Tamale on Thursday.
The presser addressed Hamza Sulemana, one of the members of the Network reiterated that under Act 939 and Act 887, the NYA and YEA were legally entitled to five per cent and 10% of the DACF respectively.
The address, contained in a statement, said analysis by the Youth Budget Monitors, however, showed that actual disbursements had fallen below the statutory levels in recent years.
It said, “The NYA’s allocation declined from GHc85 million in 2018 to GHc5 million in the first two quarters of this year.
It added that, “The YEA’s allocation has fallen to below 1% of the DACF contrary to the 10% requirement.”
The statement said the situation had led to several regional and district youth offices being unable to execute their programmes for the benefit of young people.
It said, “The decline has affected youth programming at both the regional and district levels resulting in reduced implementation of training, leadership, and entrepreneurship initiatives, limited oversight and coordination of youth activities by local structures and delays, and cancellations of youth employment programmes nationwide.”
The statement added that the Northern, Upper East, and Upper West Regions had been the most affected, with many community-level youth initiatives stalled due to lack of funding.
It emphasised that, “Youth development begins at the community level, but regional structures are the backbone of coordination. When budgets shrink, the entire youth support system weakens.”
The YEFL-Ghana and the Youth Budget Monitors, therefore, urged the Ministry of Finance and the DACF Secretariat to restore full statutory allocations as stipulated under Act 939 and Act 887.
They urged Parliament to exercise oversight to ensure compliance with youth financing laws.
They called on the DACF Secretariat to publish allocation data to enhance transparency as well as need for the Ghana Audit Service to conduct an independent review of DACF compliance for the past five years.
Mr Abdul-Ganiyu Alhassan, Technical Advisor, Youth and Gender at YEFL-Ghana said “Act 939 and Act 887 are clear on youth financing. Respecting these laws is essential for sustaining trust and promoting youth inclusion in national development.”
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/Benjamin Mensah