Abdul Wahab Jawando is the Public Relations Officer of YEA
The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has outlined a series of bold interventions aimed at addressing Ghana’s growing youth unemployment challenge.
The Agency’s Public Relations Officer, Abdul Wahab Jawando, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating sustainable jobs during an interview on Baraka 98.7FM’s Adekye Mu Nhyira morning show in the Eastern Region.
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.
Each year, about 100,000 graduates complete tertiary education, yet only 10 percent are absorbed into the public sector, he added.
According to Jawando, the crisis is compounded by population growth, economic challenges, and the strong preference for public sector jobs.
Other pressing concerns, he noted, include limited creativity, inadequate skills training, and a mismatch between education and labour market demands.
He stressed the need for a national reorientation of young people, alongside improved technical and vocational training, to prepare them for the rapidly evolving job market.
Established under the Youth Employment Agency Act, 2015 (Act 887), the YEA operates under the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
It works with private companies, NGOs, and development partners to provide training, job placement, and entrepreneurship opportunities for graduates, school leavers, women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and other vulnerable groups.
Jawando outlined the Agency’s ongoing interventions, which span education, health, security, environment, and corporate/private sector support. These include:
Security: 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.
Health and Education: 6,000 Community First Responders with the Ghana Ambulance Service; 3,000 Arabic instructors under an ongoing module; 5,000 youth under the Job Centre; 5,000 in the Work Abroad programme; and 2,000 receiving training in sustainable charcoal production.
Insurance Enforcement: 500 youth engaged with the National Insurance Commission.
Highlighting new initiatives, he disclosed that under the leadership of CEO Malik Basintale, YEA 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.
The project seeks to convert agricultural waste, such as coconut husks, into eco-friendly charcoal, reducing environmental pollution caused by traditional charcoal burning.
Jawando further hinted at upcoming programmes, including the Community Health Workers Module, the School Support Programme, and the Community Education Teaching Assistant Module.
He encouraged Ghanaian youth to take advantage of these opportunities by applying through the official YEA website or visiting regional and district YEA offices nationwide.
