Malik Basintale reports 100,628 youth beneficiaries in 2026

The Chief Executive of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Malik Basintale, has announced that the agency enrolled 100,628 beneficiaries as of September 30, 2026. Speaking at the Government Accountability Series held at Jubilee House, Basintale noted that this figure represents 75.7% of the agency's annual recruitment target of 133,000. He reported a 566.67% increase in enrollment since he assumed office in 2025, emphasizing that the agency now operates 16 distinct employment models designed to provide skills training and sustainable livelihoods for young Ghanaians under the administration of President John Mahama.

Providing a breakdown of the agency's current operations, Basintale highlighted the success of the Community Police Assistant module, which has seen 11,788 personnel trained and deployed to support the Ghana Police Service. To ensure the long-term stability of these roles, the YEA is pursuing retention agreements with various security agencies, aiming for a 60% permanent absorption rate for its beneficiaries. The agency is also developing "Jobs Connect," a digital employment platform intended to streamline access to job opportunities within the digital economy and ensure timely allowance payments for participants.

To further expand the agency's impact, Basintale proposed a significant legislative amendment to the Youth Employment Agency Act, 2015 (Act 887). The proposed change would make it mandatory for both public and private sector organisations to channel their recruitment through the YEA. He argued that the current lack of legal authority to enforce such requirements limits the agency's ability to facilitate direct placements. Additionally, the CEO called for a review of Section 23(b) of the Act to remove the current cap on Communications Service Tax (CST) revenue, stating that the existing funding arrangements hinder the agency's ability to plan and implement large-scale employment programmes efficiently.

Looking forward, the YEA is set to introduce a new delivery service policy to address gaps in 10 out of the 16 regions where established delivery services are currently absent. This initiative is expected to create new entrepreneurship opportunities for the youth. Basintale also announced the upcoming launch of a dedicated support programme for persons with disabilities and noted that approximately 1,000 beneficiaries have already secured international opportunities through the agency's various skills development and vocational training efforts.