Former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen has faulted the current government over the mode in which it implemented the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) programme.NABCO was introduced by the Akufo-Addo led administration in 2017 as part of measures to address graduate unemployment in the country.

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The initiative which temporarily employed thousands of youth, was run under seven modules: Educate Ghana, Heal Ghana, Feed Ghana, Revenue Ghana, Digitize Ghana, Enterprise Ghana, and Civic Ghana.The program, however, collapsed in 2022 despite government assurances to make the beneficiaries permanent employers.

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Reacting to the issue that has left many youth dissatisfied, Mr Alan Kyerematen noted that the programme was not sustainable in the first place owing to its structure.The initiative which temporarily employed thousands of youth, was run under seven modules: Educate Ghana, Heal Ghana, Feed Ghana, Revenue Ghana, Digitize Ghana, Enterprise Ghana, and Civic Ghana.

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According to Mr Kyereman in an interview on TV3, stated that it would have beneficial if the funds invested into NABCO programme was channeled to companies participating in the One District One Factory programme to provide more job opportunities to the youth.

NABCO programme itself could have been better designed. For example, the amount of money that was put into NABCO. If we have given

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the same amount to let's say the companies in the One District One Factory for people who would be employed, that would have been a more sustainable way of utilizing the skills of these personnel."I don't think the NABCO programme would have been sustainable anyway. It grieves my heart. It is unfortunate that they have gone through this programme with a promise of transitioning to permanent jobs. But it ain't gonna happen.

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"If that same money had been given to the private sector as an incentive to employ these same people, I think it would have been a better business model."When asked if he had informed the incumbent government of his views on the programme, he noted that "we had different views on this.

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"He added: "We have an oath of secrecy that we sign as Cabinet Ministers and I don't think this is the right forum for us to say who said what and our different views on programmes"Thousands of beneficiaries have since not been been paid 8 months arrears of stipends.The Aggrieved Nation Builders Corps (NABCo) Association threatened to stage a protest if the Ministry of Finance failed to settle their 9 months' arrears by August 31, 2023.

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Government was not able to make the necessary payments, however, the Association failed to protest as earlier indicated.Former Abuakwa North Municipal Coordinator of Nation Building Corps (NABCO), Otuo Serebuor, is said to have now resorted to selling salt to earn a living.

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