Ghana’s YEA and Prisons Service Sign MoU to Recruit 5,000 Youth as Prison Assistants
Accra, July 21, 2025 — In a landmark effort to combat youth unemployment and bolster national security, the Ghana Prisons Service and the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) have formalised a strategic partnership via a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to train and recruit 5,000 young Ghanaians as Prison Service Assistants across the country .
The signing ceremony, held at the Ministry of the Interior, was witnessed by Hon. Muntaka Mohammed‑Mubarak, Minister for the Interior, and Hon. George Opare‑Addo, Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, highlighting the government’s shared commitment to youth empowerment and institutional support (Ministry of Trade and Industry).
Under the agreement:
- YEA will fund training costs and provide monthly stipends for all selected participants.
- The Ghana Prisons Service will design and deliver the training curriculum and oversee deployment across its facilities nationwide.
- A joint Programme Management Committee will be established to ensure efficient coordination and implementation of the initiative (Ministry of Trade and Industry).
According to the Ghana Prisons Service, the new recruits will assist with operational support, administrative duties, rehabilitation programming, and the upcoming Clean Ghana Project, prison‑based industrialization, and an anticipated Parole System expected to pass into law soon
The Director‑General of Prisons emphasized: “We must be proactive in equipping the Prisons Service with the human resources needed to fulfil its evolving mandate… these assistants will play a vital role in supporting reforms aimed at rehabilitation, reintegration, and social transformation.” - The initiative echoes similar successful collaborations. Previously, the YEA partnered with the Ghana Police Service to recruit 12,000 Community Police Assistants, and with the Ghana National Fire Service to recruit 5,000 Fire Assistants, all under high‑profile MoUs witnessed by top Interior and Youth Ministry leaders
- This latest portal gives Ghanaian youth aged 18–35 an opportunity to be enrolled in a two‑year programme with potential for future inclusion in permanent security service roles. It reinforces the government’s broader strategy to reduce youth unemployment while strengthening its security architecture.
- What to Know:
- Programme name: Youth in Prisons Service Assistance
- Beneficiaries: 5,000 youth aged 18–35
- Duration: Two‑year engagement
- Benefits: Training, monthly stipend, national deployment, chance for future roles
- Partners: Ghana Prisons Service, Youth Employment Agency, Ministries of Interior and Youth Development
Prospective applicants and stakeholders are encouraged to follow official YEA channels for updates on application periods and recruitment guidelines.
This initiative underlines a bold step by the Ghanaian government to actively create sustainable employment pathways for the youth while supporting critical state institutions through capacity building and reform.
