The Public Relations Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Abdul Wahab Jawando, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating sustainable jobs for young people across the country.
He made this known on Baraka 98.7FM’s Adekye Mu Nhyira morning show in the Eastern Region to where he discussed YEA’s opportunities for the Ghanaian Youth.
He revealed that, Ghana’s overall unemployment rate stood at 13.1 percent in 2024, with youth unemployment among those aged 15–35 pegged at 22.5 percent.
According to him, each year, an estimated 100,000 graduates complete tertiary education, yet only about 10 percent are absorbed into the public sector.
Mr. Jawando noted that while population growth and economic challenges contribute to the unemployment crisis, other factors including the strong preference for public sector jobs, inadequate capacity for creativity, and a mismatch between skills and labor market demands remain pressing concerns.
He stressed the need for reorientation of the youth, coupled with improved skills training and education, to equip them for the rapidly evolving job market.
The YEA, he said established by the Youth Employment Agency Act, 2015 (Act 887), operates under the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment and partners with private companies, NGOs, and development agencies to provide training, job placement, and entrepreneurship opportunities target groups include graduates, school leavers, women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and other vulnerable youth.
He stated that, the Agency’s current interventions cut across multiple sectors such as education, health, security, environment, and corporate/private sector support.
Key initiatives of the Agency he said include security with 12,000 youth engaged as Community Policing Assistants with the Ghana Police Service; 5,000 with the Ghana National Fire Service; and 5,000 with the Ghana Prisons Service.
On Health, education and employment, Mr. Jawando stated that 6,000 Community First Responders with the Ghana Ambulance Service, 3,000 Arabic instructors under an ongoing module and 5,000 youth engaged under the Job Centre, 5,000 under the Work Abroad programme, and 2,000 registered under sustainable charcoal production training.
Insurance Enforcement: 500 youth engaged with the National Insurance Commission.
Highlighting new initiatives, Mr. Jawando revealed that the YEA, under the leadership of CEO Malik Basintale, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Zacoal Company Limited to train 2,000 youth in sustainable charcoal production under the Waste to Wealth Project.
This initiative focuses on converting agricultural waste such as coconut husks into eco-friendly charcoal, reducing pollution caused by traditional charcoal burning.
He further hinted that upcoming programmes will include the Community Health Workers Module, School Support Programme, and Community Education Teaching Assistant Module.
Mr. Jawando encouraged Ghanaian youth to take advantage of these opportunities by applying through the official YEA website as well as regional and district YEA offices nationwide.
