By: Kenneth Appiah Bani
The Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Malik Basintale, has announced that beneficiary recruitment under the current administration has increased by at least 566.67% compared with the number recorded when the government assumed office.
Mr Basintale made the disclosure on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, during his first appearance on the government’s Accountability Series, where he outlined his stewardship of the agency, achievements and challenges in expanding employment opportunities for young people across the country.
According to the YEA CEO, the agency had recorded 100,628 beneficiaries as of September 30, 2026, representing 75.7% of its annual recruitment target.
The figures highlight the agency’s ongoing efforts to expand its programmes and provide more young people with opportunities to gain employment experience, develop practical skills and improve their prospects in the labour market.
YEA Records 100,628 Beneficiaries
Presenting an update on the agency’s performance, Mr Basintale said the increase in beneficiary recruitment reflected the expansion of the YEA’s employment interventions since the current administration took office.
He stated that beneficiary recruitment had increased by at least 566.67% compared with the numbers inherited by the administration.
“Since assuming office, we’ve increased beneficiary recruitment by at least 566.67% of the number we met,” Mr Basintale said.
The agency’s reported 100,628 beneficiaries as of September 30, 2026, represent 75.7% of its annual recruitment target, indicating that recruitment efforts are progressing towards the target set for the year.
The figures also provide an indication of the scale of the agency’s operations and the number of young people reached through its employment programmes.
However, the long-term impact of the recruitment drive will depend not only on the number of beneficiaries engaged but also on the skills they acquire, the quality of their work experience and their ability to secure sustainable employment after completing their programmes.
YEA Is a Stop-Gap Institution, Not a Direct Employer
Mr Basintale has also clarified the role of the Youth Employment Agency, explaining that it is not a direct employer responsible for recruiting people into mainstream public and private sector jobs.
He described the YEA as a stop-gap institution that provides temporary employment opportunities and support to beneficiaries while helping them prepare for further opportunities in the labour market.
His clarification highlights the distinction between the agency’s mandate and that of public institutions and private businesses that recruit workers into permanent positions.
The YEA’s programmes are intended to provide beneficiaries with opportunities to gain work experience, develop relevant skills and improve their readiness for the job market.
Under this arrangement, the agency serves as an intermediary support mechanism for young people who may otherwise struggle to access employment opportunities.
The clarification also places emphasis on the need for beneficiaries to use their engagement with the agency as a stepping stone towards longer-term employment, entrepreneurship or further skills development.
Security Agencies to Retain About 60% of Recruits
As part of efforts to improve employment prospects after beneficiaries complete their engagement, Mr Basintale announced that the agency had secured a beneficiary retention agreement with security agencies.
The agreement is expected to facilitate the absorption of approximately 60% of recruits into the security agencies after completing their two-year engagement.
The initiative is intended to provide a pathway from temporary engagement to continued employment for beneficiaries who meet the relevant requirements.
If effectively implemented, the arrangement could help address concerns about beneficiaries returning to unemployment after completing their programmes.
However, further details on the participating security agencies, eligibility criteria and implementation arrangements would be needed to establish how the retention agreement will operate.
Communication Service Tax Capping Affects YEA Funding
Despite the reported increase in beneficiary recruitment, Mr Basintale identified funding as one of the major challenges confronting the agency.
He attributed the challenge to the capping of the Communication Service Tax under the previous administration, explaining that the tax constitutes the principal source of funding for the YEA.
“A challenge confronting the YEA is the capping of the Communication Service Tax by the erstwhile government, which constitutes the principal source of our Agency funding,” Mr Basintale said.
His comments point to concerns about the availability of adequate financial resources to support the agency’s programmes and sustain its employment interventions.
Since the Communication Service Tax is identified as the agency’s primary funding source, changes affecting the revenue available to it could have implications for recruitment, programme implementation and the expansion of opportunities for young people.
The funding challenge could also influence the agency’s ability to maintain its current level of operations while pursuing its annual recruitment target.
Ensuring sustainable financing will therefore remain important as the YEA seeks to expand its reach and provide beneficiaries with meaningful opportunities.
YEA CEO Calls for Greater Recognition of Technical and Vocational Education
Mr Basintale also advocated for a change in societal attitudes towards technical and vocational education, arguing that vocational skills should not be regarded as inferior alternatives to formal employment.
He emphasised that technical and vocational skills are essential to productive economic participation and should be recognised as valuable pathways to employment and self-reliance.
His position reflects growing calls for greater recognition of practical skills and vocational training as important contributors to economic development.
Technical and vocational education can equip young people with practical competencies needed in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, electrical installation, automotive services, fashion, hospitality and other skilled occupations.
Greater acceptance of vocational careers could also encourage more young people to pursue skills-based opportunities rather than measuring success solely by the acquisition of conventional academic qualifications or employment in office-based positions.
For the YEA, promoting vocational skills could complement its employment interventions by helping beneficiaries develop competencies that are relevant to the needs of employers and the wider economy.
Mr Basintale’s comments underline the importance of creating an environment in which young people can pursue different career paths without vocational work being viewed as less valuable than other forms of employment.
Focus on Sustainable Youth Employment
The YEA CEO’s presentation on the government’s Accountability Series comes amid continued national attention on youth unemployment and the need for practical interventions to improve access to jobs.
The reported increase in recruitment, the 100,628 beneficiaries recorded as of September 30, 2026, and the proposed retention arrangement with security agencies form part of the measures highlighted by the agency’s leadership.
At the same time, the funding concerns raised by Mr Basintale underscore the importance of maintaining adequate resources to sustain employment programmes.
While the recruitment figures provide an indication of the agency’s reach, the effectiveness of its interventions will also depend on whether beneficiaries acquire useful skills, transition into further employment and establish sustainable livelihoods.
The proposed retention agreement could provide a more direct employment pathway for some beneficiaries, while greater recognition of technical and vocational education could broaden the range of opportunities available to young people.
As the YEA continues its work, attention is likely to remain on its ability to meet its recruitment targets, address funding constraints and help beneficiaries move from temporary engagement into longer-term economic participation.
