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A political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Prof. K. Acheampong has waded into the leaked document on the financial demands made on the Youth Employment Agency by the sector Minister, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu. According to Prof. Acheampong, the sector minister has not faulted in making demands from the budget of an agency under the supervisory of the Ministry.

The lecturer noted that this has always happened in government when sector ministers make use of available funds in departments and agencies of the ministry and pay back.

“There is absolutely nothing wrong for a Ministry to ask its agency to fund approved expenditures when the Ministry itself is faced with financial inadequacies. Most times, the loan is paid back and I am sure the Ministry of Employment and Labour relations have charted modalities to restitute the monies owed the agency”, he said.

“It is usual practice within the public service for Ministries to depend on their agencies when they are faced with financial difficulties and can sometimes borrow for subsequent reimbursement subject to releases from the Ministry of Finance.

Even the Section 24 1 (e) of Act 887 establishing the Youth Employment Agency  has stipulated that the Ministry of Employment and Labour relations is entitle to five percent (5%) of the funds allocated for the Agency. This is to enhance the Ministry’s supervisory and oversight responsibilities. So, where did the Ministry faulted in exercising this regulatory framework?” the lecturer quizzed.

According to the lecturer, people make noise about nothing because of the lack of understanding of the concepts of governance and how government works. If one reads the Section 24 of the Youth Employment Agency Act, 2015 Act (887), which stipulates the Application of funds by the Agency, one will appreciate the Ministry did no wrong in exercising those privileges enshrined in the act. 

“If my understanding is that the amount borrowed by the Ministry is not only for travelling expenses but also paying for annual ILO and ARLAC subscriptions which were outstanding, then it was judiciously expended. 

The country could have faced global humiliation of losing her titular voting rights at the 104th Session of the International Labour Conference of the International Labour Organisation held in Geneva, Switzerland”s.

Information from leaked documents suggests that the Ministry of Employment and Labour relations had borrowed over GHc1 million cedis from the YEA on travels for an international conference organized by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland.

In response, the Ministry has clarified that the Two Hundred and thirty Thousand nine hundred and sixty US Dollars, forty three cents ($230,960.43) borrowed from YEA had Fifty Percent of it used for the payment of subscription arrears owed ILO, amounting to One Hundred and Forty Four thousand and Fifty Swiss Francs, Fifty Cents (SFR 144,052.50) and that of the African Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC) which amounted to Sixty nine thousand seven hundred and six US Dollars ($69,706).

This the Ministry said is pending reimbursement by the Ministry of Finance, which was outstanding and in arrears.

The Ministry also clarified that the rest of the amount was spent to cover travel expenses of Sixteen (16) members of the Ghanaian delegation comprising staff of the Ministry, Agencies of the Ministry, some members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Employment and other Social partners (Tripartite) per ILO requirements.