Accra, April 1, GNA - Government has released GHc16 million to pay off the four- month accumulated arrears of the personnel of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).

An amount of GHc3.5 million has also been released to the Agricultural Development Bank, to minimise the GHc26million government owed the financial entity.

The ruling National Democratic Congress incurred a debt of GHc17 million from the previous administration. Mr. Abuga Pele, National Co-ordinator of NYEP made this known at a press conference in Accra on Thursday

As part of the NYEP's exit plans, Mr. Pele said 7,000 out of the 13,= 000 beneficiaries of the Health Extension Model would be absorbed by the Ghan= a Health Service. He said the Ministry of Youth and Sports had also negotiated a flexi= ble entry requirement for the beneficiaries, who would want to pursue professional career in nursing and related fields.

Mr. Pele said 10,000 beneficiaries would be recruited under the Heal= th module, 15,000 under the teaching module and 25, 000, for the Youth and Security module in the fresh recruitment, which would commence in earnest= this month.