Ghana’s Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has deployed a new cohort of beneficiaries to the United Arab Emirates under its Labour Exchange Programme, as part of efforts to expand overseas employment opportunities and reduce youth unemployment.
The beneficiaries are expected to take up roles in the hospitality sector, working with international fast-food brands including KFC, Pizza Hut, and Hardee’s under two-year contracts, highlighting what officials describe as a “structured pathway” for skills development and income generation abroad.
The initiative forms part of YEA’s broader strategy to create “sustainable employment pathways” while integrating Ghanaian youth into global labour markets, particularly in sectors with high demand for service workers.
At a pre-departure orientation in Accra, YEA Chief Executive Officer Malik Basintale urged participants to uphold discipline and professionalism, stressing the need to “respect the rules” of their host institutions while working toward “personal and professional goals.”
He noted that the success of the programme depends partly on beneficiaries maintaining high standards of conduct and performance.
Malik Basintale also emphasized the Agency’s commitment to participant welfare, indicating that YEA would “maintain constant communication” and provide ongoing support throughout the duration of the contracts, a move aimed at strengthening oversight and ensuring compliance with agreed employment terms.
The Labour Exchange Programme, previously known as the YEA Work Abroad Programme, has been repositioned to enhance its operational framework and expand its reach, reflecting growing policy emphasis on labour mobility as a tool for addressing domestic employment pressures.
Such programmes, if effectively managed, could contribute to skills transfer, remittance inflows, and broader economic linkages, although concerns around worker protection and long-term reintegration remain critical considerations.
