The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has launched a program to address youth unemployment. The initiative aims to provide young Ghanaians with practical and job-ready skills.
YEA’s Public Relations Officer, Awal Mohammed, told Universnews that the agency has begun discussions with hairdressing and garment-making professionals for the first phase of training. Mohammed also outlined plans for integrating trainees into the job market post-training.
“We decided to shift from providing temporary employment to offering sustainable employment through skills training. We started with garment-making, believing it would create numerous job opportunities. We met with the Hairdressers and Tailors Association masters, who agreed to train three people with 10,000 cedis.”
He also disclosed that the agency is set to launch an app that would help search specific artisans trained in various services for customers.
“The Public Procurement Authority approved 18,500 cedis per trainee. We paid 100 masters across the country to train 2,000 people. We planned to launch an app similar to Uber or Bolt, called ‘Gh Artisans,’ where users could find certified artisans trained by us for various services, such as plumbing work at the University of Ghana.”
Mr. Awal Mohammed also outlined the program’s second phase, which focuses on training youth in various trades including auto repair, carpentry, plumbing, beauty care, electrical work, and welding.
“We began with various artisanal trades, including plumbing, masonry, beauty care, hairdressing, tiling, and glazing. We distributed 10,000 trainees among masters across the country. Two weeks ago in Techiman, we held a graduation ceremony where we provided the graduates with essential advice on how to establish themselves and start working.”
The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) Ghana aims to support young people aged 15-35 by providing skills training and internship opportunities, helping them transition from unemployment to employment and contribute to national development.
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Story by: Promise Yaa Dakey | Univers.ug.edu.gh
