The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) in the Western Region is set to intensify its support for young people next year.
The Western Region Director Abdul Hakeem Mahama announced a key initiative: extending services directly to underserved communities, including ghettos.
Speaking exclusively on Connect FM’s Asem Yi Dzi Ka show, Mr. Mahama said the Skills Training Programme will target youth in these areas nationwide to curb crime and address unemployment as a root cause.
He emphasized the government’s duty to support vulnerable groups, noting, “During the campaign, we visited the ghettos. Now that these opportunities are available, we must reach them and ensure they benefit.”
Mr. Mahama revealed that 2,077 young Ghanaians in the Western Region have already enrolled in the government’s Skills Training Programme, run by YEA. Beneficiaries are training in over 19 modules, including masonry, carpentry, dressmaking, tiling, autoworks, and more.
He expressed concern, however, over the region’s low participation rates.
“We’re urging residents to seize these opportunities when the portal opens,” he said.
“Other regions see oversubscription, we can do better here too.”
Special Project
In 2026, YEA’s Western Region Directorate will launch a special project to boost local capacity in heavy-duty machine handling and security control systems, according to Mr. Mahama. The agency is consulting stakeholders, including parliamentarians, to finalize the concept.
“You can see that this region uses more heavy-duty machines in various industries than any other,” he added. “Companies need skilled workers to operate them, so we’re training as many as possible to meet that demand.”
