Dr. Rashid Pelpuo and Malik Basintale
The Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment (MLJE), in collaboration with the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), has inaugurated the Inter-Ministerial Steering and Technical Committees to oversee the implementation of the government’s new Work Abroad Programme.
The event, held yesterday at the MLJE conference room, brought together representatives from key state institutions and international organisations who will serve on the two committees.
In her welcome remarks, the Acting Chief Director of the Ministry, Madam Gloria Bortele Noi, extended appreciation to all participants for their commitment to supporting the programme.
The Chief Executive Officer of YEA, Malik Basintale, provided an overview of the initiative, emphasizing that the programme is designed to create opportunities for skilled Ghanaian youth to gain international employment—contrary to common public misconceptions.
He highlighted the importance of building a pool of well-trained individuals ready to take up these roles.
The Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, reiterated the government’s commitment to tackling youth unemployment through strategic international partnerships.
He noted that the Work Abroad Programme, jointly led by MLJE and YEA, aims to facilitate temporary, seasonal, contract, and permanent employment for Ghanaian youth in partner countries.
Dr. Pelpuo outlined the programme’s objectives, which include promoting safe and orderly migration, enhancing youth employability, addressing unemployment, supporting national economic growth, and ensuring the sustainable reintegration of returnees.
He added that the initiative is intended to create a “win-win” situation for Ghanaian youth, the national economy, and international labour markets.
Importantly, during his address, the Minister officially announced the cancellation of the migration of domestic workers, citing the need to protect vulnerable groups from exploitation and to align Ghana’s labour migration strategy with international standards.
This marks a significant policy shift, prioritizing skilled and semi-skilled employment opportunities abroad.
The Minister also announced the composition of the newly formed committees and elaborated on their roles in ensuring the successful rollout of the initiative.
The YEA will serve as the programme’s secretariat and play a key operational role.
In officially inaugurating the committees, Dr. Pelpuo thanked members for their willingness to serve and wished them success in their work ahead.
The Work Abroad Programme is one of the government’s key interventions aimed at addressing youth unemployment through global partnerships and job creation.
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