The Youth in Afforestation, a part of the Forestry Commission and operating under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has issued a strict one-month deadline to the government, demanding the prompt settlement of their outstanding allowances spanning over a year.

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This group has accused the government of displaying satisfaction in the achievements of the tree planting initiative, all the while failing to fulfill its obligation of disbursing their entitled allowances.

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In a press release shared with GhanaWeb, the Youth in Afforestation revealed that they have successfully planted over 67 million trees across the nation since the commencement of the program in 2018.

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They lamented the elevated cost of living, underscoring that some members have been compelled to borrow money merely to cover their work-related expenses.

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"We the Youth In Afforestation (YIA) under the Forestry Commission, Ministry of Lands and Minerals Resources are demanding our unpaid allowance for over one year and four months from the government and we are giving the government up to this month of August to clear all allowances due us," part of the release read.

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"We were over 60,000 when we began the Youth In Afforestation (YIA) program introduced by the government in 2018 under the leadership of late Hon. Kwaku Owusu Afriyie popularly known as Sir John, since the program started we have planted over 67million trees across the country," it added.

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The Youth in Afforestation (YIA) are demanding the settlement of their outstanding unpaid allowances spanning one year and four months, with a deadline set for the end of August.

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As members of the Youth in Afforestation (YIA) program under the oversight of the Forestry Commission and the Ministry of Lands and Minerals Resources, we are urging the government to promptly address our grievances concerning the overdue allowances that have accumulated over the course of more than a year and four months. We hereby give the government until the conclusion of August to ensure the full disbursement of all the allowances owed to us.

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When we initially embraced the Youth in Afforestation (YIA) initiative introduced by the government in 2018 under the leadership of the late Hon. Kwaku Owusu Afriyie, commonly known as Sir John, we numbered over 60,000 participants. Throughout the program's tenure, we have successfully planted over 67 million trees across the entirety of our nation.

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Nonetheless, due to extreme dissatisfaction and the neglect of our rightful remunerations, we have tragically lost valuable members of our community (May their souls rest in peace).

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At present, a staggering count of over 25,000 Youth in Afforestation members have decided to withhold their support for the current ruling government and have indicated their intention to cease their participation unless our concerns are promptly addressed.

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It is with great distress that we, the Youth in Afforestation (YIA), find ourselves in this plight. The need for us to struggle for the stipends that are rightfully ours before receiving them is an unfortunate reflection of both the Government and the Forestry Commission Ghana.

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It is crucial to remember that we have families to support, and our suffering arises from the absence of payment. We are constantly plagued by hunger and endure immense challenges.

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The agonizing reality is that many of us must endure considerable hardships before even reaching our workplaces. Numerous individuals resort to borrowing simply to make it to work, and a significant number among us arrive on the job with empty stomachs, yet our plight seems to be ignored by those in power.

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Our unwavering dedication to our country has driven us to endure these hardships, all for the sake of our beloved Mother Ghana. However, it is disheartening to witness the Minister of Land and Natural Resources celebrating the accomplishments of the Afforestation program while neglecting to acknowledge the crucial role played by us, the Youth in Afforestation (YIA), in its success.

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The minister has unfortunately turned a deaf ear to our predicament and has taken no significant steps towards resolving our longstanding allowance issues.

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It is essential for those in positions of authority to realize that the collective struggles and challenges faced by the Youth in Afforestation are also a reflection of the larger responsibilities of our government. The consequences of the suffering and difficulties experienced by all those who have been negatively affected by the non-payment of our allowances will ultimately fall on your shoulders. For as of now, we have not received our deserved allowances for an extended period of one year and four months.

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While the government seems to take pride in the achievements of the program, it has fallen short in fulfilling its duty to ensure the timely and complete disbursement of our allowances.

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We wish to express our deep disappointment with both major political parties, NPP and NDC, for neglecting us in their agendas despite the hardships we endure.

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As the 2024 elections approach, we, the Youth in Afforestation (YIA), will take it upon ourselves to consider the actions and commitments of these political parties.

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