Youth in Afforestation Storm Forestry C’ssion Office Over Unpaid Allowances

Hundreds of Beneficiaries of the government’s youth in afforestation programme under the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) have besieged the premises of the Forestry Commission (FC) over unpaid allowances.

The beneficiaries laments over refusal by head of the Commission to pay their allowances, therefore demanding his removal from office.

According to them, the irresponsible character by Sir John is over them, therefore describing his action as  ”Empty Promises”.

The angry youths who spoke to the media said, most of them haven’t been paid for close to seven months saying: “To be honest we are going hungry. We go to the bushes without insurance, some of our colleagues are being beaten by snakes, some being cut by cutlasses and others. Nothing to protect us.”

“Aside Ashanti Region, the other nine Regions aren’t having their logistics, that’s the cutlasses, wellington boots and others to protect them and work with. So it seemed they just gave us the appointment letter without attaching any seriousness to it. So we are beginning a sit-down strike today, Monday, October 8, 2018.”

Addressing the irate youth, Sir John said: “By the close of the day today and tomorrow you’ll have your monies in your e-zwich accounts. If you don’t get your monies tomorrow, come back here. And that is to assure you that the Ministry of Finance has released monies for your allowance.

“These are not monies coming from my pocket and the Ministry of Finance did release monies for us last week. The money went to the Controller and Accountant General’s department, and we have had to push for the Controller to release the monies to us and we have given the monies to our bank to pay into your e-zwich accounts.

“The monies were paid yesterday, and, so, by close of work today and tomorrow you’ll get your monies and we’re paying one month…”

Due to tension on the scene, some police and military personnel were deployed to the scene to maintain peace.