21,000 youths are being trained by the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and CSIR-BRRI in specialized skills under the Youth In Brick Production and Construction module of the Agency.
The trainees will be taken through a meticulously designed training module to impart the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the field of burnt brick making and construction.
Addressing the selected trainees in Kumasi, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of YEA, Kofi Baah Agyepong said the YEA has been planning the program since last August when many people questioned YEA’s scale of ambition.
He said, YEA’s scale of ambition is embedded in our skills training and job creation drive.
According to him, some people thought YEA’s system could not carry too many big plans, but currently, the YEA is training 10,000 youths in ten field areas, including Masonry, Carpentry, Tiling, POP, Glazing Works, General Electricals, Plumbing, Beauty Care, Hairdressing, and Auto Works.
The Youth In Brick Production and Construction, he said, which is a collaborative program between the YEA and CSIR-BRRI, will train and equip the youth to acquire specialized skills that will help change the construction industry of the country.
“By the end of the year, a total of 21,000 youths would have been trained and equipped not only to provide bread and butter for their families but also to contribute to national development,” he said.
He lamented that the unemployment situation in Ghana is serious, describing it as a national security threat.
He averred that the government, through the YEA, has done a lot and will continue to do a lot in creating job opportunities as they currently have over 200,000 young men and women in their database looking for various jobs.
The YEA boss lauded the government’s efforts in supporting the YEA to achieve its aims and objectives and indicated that the YEA is backed by a government that sees youth unemployment as a major concern for national development and provides the YEA with the necessary support even in trying times. But Ametor Ellah, secretary of the PWD toll workers, confirmed that he and some of his colleagues have been employed by the YEA.“I want to let you know that it is not true that some of our people have not been employed based on their qualifications. They were asking for qualifications from SHS to degree level. “Some of them have been employed and I have personally been employed. I was called for an interview and I was told that my appointment letter is ready.”
