The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Malik Basintale, has assured improved conditions of service for personnel of the Agency. 

He said the YEA was collaborating with the government to facilitate the migration of personnel into the public sector wage system. 

“It’s worrying that personnel of the YEA are not enjoying the right salary as public service workers," Mr Basintale stated, adding that the migration would enhance the salaries of personnel. 

The YEA CEO gave the assurance when he addressed personnel of the Authority at Techiman on the sidelines of his tour to the Bono East Region, saying that the Agency remained dedicated to improving the conditions of service of its personnel. 

“Our personnel are also public service workers, and they have to also benefit from fair wages, deserving promotion and public salary increment, Mr Basintale stated. 

He explained that his visit was to enable him to acquaint himself with the operations of the YEA in the region, assuring personnel of the Agency of the government's commitment to improve their wellbeing. 

Mr Basintale said that personnel on contract, like those on the YEA models, would also not be left out in the migration process. 

He said the Authority had provided job opportunities within its 12 traditional models, saying that its Ambulance Service model alone had engaged more than 6,000 community first response personnel to support ambulance services. 

Mr Basintale said the Agency had also engaged an additional 600 young people under the labour exchange programme, saying that it had so far created job opportunities for more than 90,000 youth nationwide. 

He said contract personnel allowances had also been increased to GH₵800. 

Mr Basintale called for effective collaboration between the Agency and the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Ghana Education Service in tackling substance abuse in schools. 

He later presented some startup kits to some beneficiaries of the Agency’s employable skills training models to start their own businesses. 

Mr Francis Owusu Antwi, Bono East Regional Minister, lauded the government’s commitment towards job creation through employable skills training.

He advised the unemployed youth to take advantage of the YEA training models and acquire decent jobs for themselves and to enhance their livelihoods.