Youth Employment Agency recruits 100,628 beneficiaries in 2026

The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has successfully recruited 100,628 beneficiaries as of September 30, 2026, reaching 75.7% of its annual target of 133,000. Chief Executive Officer Malik Basintale announced these figures during the Government Accountability Series at Jubilee House on October 21. This performance represents a 566% increase in recruitment compared to the 2025 fiscal year, signaling a major expansion of the agency's efforts to address youth unemployment.

In a move to improve the welfare of participants, the agency has raised monthly beneficiary stipends by 60%, increasing the allowance from GH‵500 to GH‵800. Basintale reported that several modules have achieved near-total enrollment, including Community Police Assistants at 98.2% and Arabic Instructors at 100%. To sustain this momentum, the YEA has secured approximately $3.6 million (GH‵44 million) from the African Development Bank for the Ghana Women and Youth Employment and Social Cohesion Programme (GWYESCO). Recruitment for this new module is scheduled to begin in November 2026, focusing on 11,200 beneficiaries across specialized fields such as briquette production, hospitality, and sustainable transport.

The agency is also strengthening private sector collaborations, notably through a partnership with North Shore Apparel Ghana Limited in Savelugu, which has already employed 1,000 young people in industrial garment production. Looking ahead to 2027, the YEA unveiled a strategic roadmap that includes the launch of the 'Jobs Connect' app to match skilled workers with market demand and the formalization of domestic work. While the CEO acknowledged challenges regarding funding caps, he emphasized that the agency's primary focus remains securing permanent job placements for beneficiaries after their initial engagement with YEA modules.