The Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, has directed the newly inaugurated Youth Employment Agency (YEA) Board to immediately review all programs and initiate competitive tenders, particularly the controversial Sanitation Module operated with Zoomlion Ghana Limited.
Speaking at the board’s inauguration, Addo charged the board to implement reforms targeted at making YEA programs more effective and accountable.
The Minister specifically called for an urgent review of the YEA’s Sanitation Module, one of the agency’s flagship programs. “I call upon this board to conduct a comprehensive review of all the modules currently operated by the Youth Employment Agency. This includes the Sanitation Module in collaboration with Zoomlion, among others,” Addo said. He added that “we need to assess their effectiveness and impact on youth employment and identify areas for improvement.”
Central to the reform agenda is a complete overhaul of how the YEA partners with service providers. “As we look to enhance the effectiveness of these modules, I invite the board to issue calls for competitive tenders from potential partners interested in running these programs, including the Sanitation Module,” he said.
The Minister noted that the new approach would ensure better value for money and more impactful programs. He proposed dividing the tendering process by regions to encourage broader participation and ensure national coverage.
The Youth Employment Agency’s Sanitation Module, which employs thousands of young Ghanaians in waste management activities across the country, has faced criticism in recent months over its operational model and partnership structure by investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni.
Mr. Addo also highlighted the importance of skills development, noting that employment modules should equip youth with transferable skills for long-term career growth beyond the programs.
The inaugurated board, comprising Mutiu-Rahaman Abubakar (Board Chairman), Malik Basintale (Ag. CEO,YEA), Emma Ofori Agyemang (Ministry of Employment, Jobs and Labour Relations), Derek Ofosu-Barko (Experienced Banker), Dawuda Ibrahim Braimah (Chief Labour Officer), Osman Ayariga (Ag. CEO, National Youth Authority), Debra-Jane Nelson (Private sector), and Bright Baah Egyir (Private sector), has been given three key immediate priorities:
1. Conduct a comprehensive review of all existing YEA modules
2. Establish new operational guidelines and financial controls
3. Implement the competitive partnership model
