Youth Employment Agency to recruit 17,200 for training and teaching

The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has announced plans to recruit 17,200 individuals across its teaching assistant and skills training programmes in November 2026. CEO Malik Basintale disclosed the initiative during a press briefing on October 21, 2026, explaining that the recruitment is part of the agency's broader strategy to tackle youth unemployment and support essential public services. The deployment of these recruits is expected to be completed by the end of November.

Of the total recruits, 6,000 will be engaged as community teaching assistants to support basic schools, particularly in underserved regions. This component is governed by a memorandum of understanding signed between the YEA and the Ghana Education Service (GES). Mr. Basintale clarified that these assistants are intended to provide auxiliary support to the existing workforce and will not replace professionally trained teachers in the classroom.

The remaining 11,200 beneficiaries will be enrolled in skills training initiatives focusing on six distinct vocational areas, including information technology and motorbike dispatch services. This phase of the project is supported by the African Development Bank and operates with a dedicated budget of US$3.6 million. The agency aims to enrol approximately 2,000 students specifically in the IT and dispatch categories as part of this expansion.

This upcoming recruitment drive follows a period of significant activity for the agency. As of September 30, 2026, the YEA has reached 100,628 beneficiaries, representing 75.7% of its annual target for the year. The agency continues to position itself as a critical bridge between unemployed youth and practical career opportunities in both the public and private sectors.