The Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, has provided a comprehensive update on the Youth Employment Agency’s (YEA) 2025 efforts to address youth unemployment, stating that over 49,000 young Ghanaians had so far benefited from the agency’s multiple intervention models as of July 31.
The minister made this disclosure during the Government Accountability Series held on Monday, August 4, 2025.
“Distinguished guests, the Ministry, through the Youth Employment Agency, continues to undertake activities aimed at the development and empowerment of our youth”
George Opare Addo, Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment
According to the Minister, the Youth Employment Agency has a target of recruiting, training, and placing 259,850 young people across Ghana by the end of the year through various employment models prescribed by its legislative instruments.
With 49,413 beneficiaries recorded by the end of July, the Minister stressed that implementation timelines for many programs are ongoing and cumulative.
As part of its strategy to integrate young graduates into the formal workforce, the Ministry stated that it launched the Graduates in Corporate Support Initiative in partnership with the National Insurance Commission.
The initiative targets 20,000 young graduates for industrial attachment placements. Though implementation is still underway, the exit plan envisions a minimum 60% retention through the YEA Job Center, coupled with entrepreneurship training.
George Opare Addo also cited collaboration with G4S Security and Soccer Bet under the YEA Job Center to create 10,000 jobs for young people, with 6,500 of those placements already achieved. Additionally, the Work Abroad Initiative has a projected target of 2,000 placements, with placement structures currently being finalized.
He further highlighted the Ministry’s focus on trades and vocations, stating that 125,000 youth are expected to benefit under various programs including the Artisan Directory and the MIC Fashion Project for Persons with Disabilities, run in collaboration with GIZ.
So far, 8,913 youth have been trained and supported to start their own businesses in fields such as ICT, auto works, carpentry, welding, painting, POP, plumbing, and hairdressing.
“This program is over a period of time, so it is not just this year. If you look at the 125,000 that we seek to place and you look at the 8,000 you may think we are performing below, but it’s over a five-year period”
George Opare Addo, Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment
Community, Education and Agriculture Initiatives
On programs aimed at urban innovation and educational support, the Ministry noted that the Smart City Projects, SHAXI platform, and Fast and Safe Transport collectively targeted 6,800 youth, with implementation ongoing.
The school support and Arabic model initiatives are expected to integrate 7,000 youth into mainstream education while supporting educational service delivery.
Mr. Addo also reported that 2,000 youth had been engaged under the Community Education Training Assistant Program, which supports classroom outcomes and prepares beneficiaries for further studies.
In the healthcare domain, full target implementation has been achieved with the deployment of 6,000 community medical first responders and 6,000 community health workers. Plans for skills upgrading and entrepreneurship support are in motion for these cohorts.
The Minister underscored agriculture as a viable employment channel, indicating that 6,550 youth are being supported with startup assistance in sectors like turkey berry and maize production, aquaculture, and livestock farming. According to the Ministry, “agriculture holds the potential to absorb a significant number of our unemployed youth.”
On the security front, he added that 12,000 community protection assistants, 5,000 fire service assistants, and 5,000 prison officer assistants have been deployed. These initiatives aim to boost employment while contributing to crime reduction, emergency preparedness, and the overall safety of communities.
The Minister also revealed that 2,500 youth are being supported in garment sector startups. In sanitation, 45,000 youth are being mobilized to form janitorial enterprises. “Whilst implementation is ongoing, systems are in place to ensure structured follow-up and support,” Mr. Addo said.
In a concluding remark, he noted that these diverse models not only seek to create jobs but are foundational to ensuring a safe, economically active environment that supports the Mahama administration’s 24-hour economy agenda.
The Ministry emphasized that sustainable youth employment is crucial to Ghana’s long-term development trajectory.
READ MORE: Pakistan Resumes Forced Expulsions Of Afghan Refugees
