About 300 staff of the Youth Employment Agency say they have had to either rely on taking up menial jobs or depending on their spouses for survival as their salaries have delayed for ten months.
According to the group, they are yet to receive any remuneration after being employed in November 2024.
At a Press Conference in Kumasi, Convenor for the concerned group, Osei Yaw Akoto said individuals who were permanently employed in November 2024 after serving as contract staff for 2 to 8 years, have been at post since December 1, 2024, but have not received any salary payments.
Despite completing the required public service processes, including technical and financial clearances, the Agency has yet to pay their salaries, citing an ongoing audit as the reason.
The staff claim they were assured by the CEO, Malik Basintale, that their salaries would be paid after the audit, but have since been left in the dark.
They further reveal most of the affected individuals are enduring hardship affecting their families.
“Our salaries have been a primary source of income for our families since 2017. As already indicated, since December 2024 till date, we have not been paid and that has brought about excruciating hardships on us and our dependents,” Mr. Akoto said.
According to him, “one staff member was even reportedly on the verge of committing suicide due to the stress and pressure of the situation.”
The staff are now calling on President Mahama to intervene in the matter and ensure they receive their salaries.
“We are starving,” they said. “We are Ghanaians, and we deserve better. Is it a crime to want to serve your country?”
The staff claim to have written to the CEO and the agency’s lawyers but are yet to receive a satisfactory response.
As the situation continues to worsen, the staff are pleading with the President to take immediate action and save them from further suffering.
Source: Nana Yaw Gyimah