Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) Mr Kofi Baah Agyepong has reiterated government’s resolve to continue with job creation, skills acquisitions and entrepreneurial development of the Youth despite the current economic challenges the country is going through.
This, he said is to reduce the pressure of unemployment facing Ghanaians especially the youth.
According to him, this commitment demonstrates that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government is very sensitive to the plight of Ghanaians in the face of global economic challenges.
He announced that YEA has created 17,000 jobs since he assumed office in the last four months through modules such as Community Health Worker Programme (CHWS), Prisons Office Assistants, Community Protection Assistants, YEA Jobcentre and partnerships with the private sector.
He gave the assurance at the passing-out parade of 1,064 CPAs recruits which constitute the second batch of trainees.
Beneficiaries were drawn from the Bono, Ashanti, Bono East, Ahafo and the Western North regions.
This brings the total number of CPA recruits who passed out of various Police Training Schools to 5,400.
Mr Agyepong stated that in view of the current economic challenges, President Akufo-Addo has tasked YEA and other agencies to refocus on creating employment and improving conditions of service for employees.
He explained that apart from rolling out the traditional modules, allowances of beneficiaries have now been increased to GH₵500 effective this year.
He announced a deepened partnership with the diplomatic community and private sector to create more private sector led jobs.
Mr Agyepong said YEA’s new agenda will create a platform for people in the technical and artisan sectors with an oncoming partnership with National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) and Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) among others.
The YEA CEO advised beneficiaries not to compromise on their professional integrity in the course of discharging their duties.
He added that the Agency would not hesitate to apply sanctions to weed out any CPA personnel who flouts the rules of their engagement with the Ghana Police Service.
He explained that the Agency had taken the necessary steps to clear all outstanding arrears owed beneficiaries.
Mr Agyepong assured that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government under the leadership of Nana Akufo-Addo has made strenuous efforts to release funds timeously to meet the monthly stipends of the beneficiaries despite the economic challenges.