The Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) in Ghana, Malik Basintale, has announced that the Agency has made significant progress in addressing longstanding challenges with delayed payments to its beneficiaries. Speaking during a familiarisation tour of the Upper East Region, Mr Basintale declared that the Agency currently owes no beneficiary outstanding allowances. This development is a major improvement from the past when beneficiaries experienced delays of between six months and one year in receiving their allowances.
Under Mr Basintale's leadership, the YEA has increased monthly allowances for beneficiaries under the Community Police module from GH¢500 to GH¢800, representing a 60 percent increase. This adjustment aims to ease the financial burden on beneficiaries and improve their working conditions. The CEO stated that the increase was necessary to ensure that beneficiaries have better financial support while engaged in their respective roles.
The YEA has made significant contributions to youth employment through its various recruitment programmes. More than 12,000 young people have been recruited under the Community Police module, while approximately 5,000 beneficiaries have been engaged under Community Fire Services. Additionally, over 5,000 beneficiaries have been recruited under the Prison Services module, with about 6,000 engaged as Community Medical First Responders.
The Agency has also implemented the Zongo Empowerment Programme in collaboration with Arabic institutions, recruiting approximately 6,000 beneficiaries. Furthermore, the YEA's Labour Exchange Programme has created employment opportunities across several sectors of the economy. These interventions have positioned the YEA as a crucial institution in addressing youth unemployment in Ghana.
Mr Basintale emphasized that the Agency's mandate extends beyond recruiting beneficiaries to ensuring that they receive adequate support and improved working conditions. Efforts to strengthen payment systems and increase allowances form part of measures to improve the welfare of young people engaged under the various employment modules. The CEO acknowledged the collective efforts of successive leadership teams and staff in achieving the Agency's successes.
During the familiarisation tour, the CEO engaged the Agency's structures in the Upper East Region, reviewed its progress, and discussed measures to improve programme delivery. He commended former executives of the Agency for their contributions to its development and urged staff and stakeholders to remain committed to strengthening the Agency's operations and expanding opportunities for young people.
The YEA CEO stressed that if the Agency's programmes were to be withdrawn, more than a hundred thousand young people would become unemployed. This highlights the critical role the YEA plays in supporting youth employment in Ghana. The Agency's achievements reflect its commitment to improving the lives of young people through employment opportunities and support.
Key points
- The YEA has improved the welfare of its beneficiaries through increased allowances and timely payments.
- Over 12,000 young people have been recruited under the Community Police module.
- The Agency's interventions have created employment opportunities across several sectors of the economy.
