We didn’t buy 4X4 vehicles with YEA cash – Minister

The Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Haruna Iddrisu says his ministry did not buy vehicles with monies meant to finance activities of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA).

Information from leaked documents suggests that Haruna Iddrisu in June 2015, requested the YEA’s procurement plan be amended to include two 4X4 Pick-up vehicles and one Cross Country vehicle.

According to the document “the three (3) additional vehicles are to strengthen and support the supervisory role of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations on Youth Employment activities.”

However a statement signed by the Employment Minister said “it must be put on record that no vehicles have been purchased by the YEA for use by the Ministry.”

Haruna Iddrisu had also been accused of borrowing over GHc1 million cedis from the YEA on travels for an international conference organized by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland.

The minister however explained that more than half of those monies were used to pay subscription arrears for the International Labour Organisation and other expenses.

Below is the full statement:

The Ministry for Employment and Labour Relations (MELR) exercises oversight supervision over the Youth Employment Agency. In all, for 2014 and 2015 the total receipts from the Agency to the Ministry stands at One Million and Twenty-Nine Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty-Five Ghana Cedis (GHC1,029,835.00).

However, part of the expenditure was varied, contingent on the expectation of some payments and releases from the Ministry of Finance.

This is in accordance with the Financial Administration Regulation (FAR) 2004 (LI 1802). For 2016, an amount of GHC2millon has been budgeted for the Ministry.

The Ministry of Employment Labour Relations (MELR) had requested the Ministry of Finance to reimburse the MELR for the Pre-financed activities.

Finally it must be put on record that no vehicles have been purchased by the YEA for use by the Ministry.

Signed:

Haruna Iddrisu (MP)

MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR RELATIONS
Accra- January 12th, 2016.