The Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Malik Basintale has proposed an amendment to the law establishing the YEA, making it mandatory for public and private sectors to channel employment through the agency.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday (Oct 21, 2026), he said the agency currently lacked the legal power to require employers to recruit through it, a limitation he wanted addressed through an amendment to the Youth Employment Agency Act, 2015 (Act 887).
Outlining the agency’s performance and plans to expand employment opportunities for young people at the press briefing dubbed Government Accountability Series, Mr Basintale said the absence of legal backing made it difficult for the agency to place young people directly into jobs across various sectors, forcing it to rely on partnerships to secure employment opportunities under its programmes.
“But we are considering that, and we know surely that His Excellency the President, John Dramani Mahama, will table that and ensure that anybody employed into any sector in this country should pass through the Youth Employment Agency for training and also ensuring that they are well equipped for whatever they are going to do,” he said.
Act 887 established the YEA to develop, coordinate, supervise and facilitate job creation for young people. Its functions include promoting youth employment in the public and private sectors and serving as a one-stop shop for youth employment and entrepreneurial development.
