The Youth Employment Agency has increased its monthly beneficiary allowance by 60 per cent, from GH¢500 to GH¢800, as part of a broader push to improve welfare and convert short-term youth employment into lasting careers, Chief Executive Officer Malik Basintale announced on Wednesday.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series at Jubilee House in Accra, Basintale said the agency had also secured retention agreements with security agencies to absorb at least 60 per cent of beneficiaries into permanent employment after completing their two-year service . The measures, he said, reflect a deliberate shift in how the agency approaches youth employment.
“Our vision is simple. Youth employment is increasingly becoming a bridge to lasting careers rather than a temporary response to unemployment,” Basintale told the audience .
Recruitment Surge and Target Progress
The agency recorded 100,628 beneficiaries as of September 30, 2026, representing 75.7 per cent of its annual target of 133,000 . Basintale said recruitment had increased by 566.67 per cent since he assumed office in February 2025, a figure he described as evidence of expanded access to employment opportunities for young Ghanaians .
The Trades and Vocations programme emerged as the strongest-performing module, recording 51,900 beneficiaries against an annual target of 30,000 — a 173 per cent achievement. The Arabic Teaching Programme exceeded its target with 6,962 beneficiaries against 6,000, while the Prison Office Assistants programme reached 5,207 against a target of 5,000 .
The agency has also facilitated the development of JobConnectz, a digital platform intended to link skilled beneficiaries with individuals and businesses seeking their services. Under the Labour Exchange Programme, more than 1,000 beneficiaries have been recruited for employment opportunities abroad through structured and lawful arrangements .
Payment Delays and Welfare Concerns
Basintale said the agency had prioritised timely payment of allowances, acknowledging that delays had been a persistent grievance. “We recognise that young people who commit themselves to public service deserve predictable remuneration, without having to endure prolonged and unnecessary delays,” he said .
The commitment follows earlier complaints. In April 2026, the agency processed outstanding arrears for most beneficiaries, attributing residual delays to technical challenges with its banking payment platform . In May, persons with disabilities working under the YEA in the Ashanti Region protested over delayed contract renewals and unpaid salaries, alleging that their recommendation letters had not been forwarded to the national office .
Basintale acknowledged that some challenges remained but maintained that beneficiary welfare continued to be a key priority .
Leadership Context
Basintale, a former Deputy National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress, was appointed acting CEO by President John Dramani Mahama in January 2025 following the resignation of Kofi Baah Agyepong . He assumed office with a mandate focused on delivering jobs to unemployed youth, stating at the time that the mission was “very dear to my heart” .
The allowance increase and retention agreements represent his most concrete policy announcements since taking leadership of the agency. Whether the 60 per cent absorption target for security-deployed beneficiaries materialises will depend on the final terms of the agreements with the respective agencies, details of which were not immediately disclosed.
For the 100,628 young people currently enrolled in YEA programmes, the GH¢300 monthly increase offers immediate relief. For the agency, the larger test remains whether it can deliver on the promise that youth employment serves as a bridge rather than a holding pattern.
