Techiman: Mr Malik Basintale, the Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), has pledged improved conditions of service for the Agency's personnel. The YEA is working with the government to facilitate the migration of its personnel into the public sector wage system. Mr Basintale highlighted the current disparity, noting that YEA personnel do not receive the same salaries as their counterparts in the public service, and expressed that the migration is expected to enhance their salaries.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Basintale provided these assurances during his address to personnel at Techiman, part of his tour to the Bono East Region. He emphasized the Agency's commitment to bettering the service conditions for its staff. He stated that YEA personnel, as public service workers, deserve fair wages, promotions, and salary increments akin to other public service employees.
Mr Basintale's visit was intended to familiarize himself with the YEA's operations in the region. He reassured personnel of the government's dedication to improving their wellbeing and confirmed that contract personnel, including those under YEA models, would also be included in the migration process.
He noted that the Authority had created job opportunities through its 12 traditional models. The Ambulance Service model alone has engaged over 6,000 community first response personnel. Additionally, the labour exchange programme has employed 600 young people, contributing to the creation of over 90,000 job opportunities nationwide.
Contract personnel allowances have been increased to GHC800. Mr Basintale called for stronger collaboration between the Agency and organizations such as the Narcotics Control Commission, Ghana Health Service, and Ghana Education Service to address substance abuse in schools.
In support of entrepreneurship, Mr Basintale presented startup kits to beneficiaries of the Agency's employable skills training models to help them start their own businesses. Bono East Regional Minister, Mr Francis Owusu Antwi, praised the government's efforts in job creation and urged unemployed youth to leverage YEA's training models to secure decent employment and improve their livelihoods.