Accra, Ghana – May 21, 2025
In a significant move to combat youth unemployment and enhance community safety, the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ghana Police Service to recruit 12,000 young people as Community Police Assistants (CPAs) nationwide.
The MoU was officially signed at the Ministry of the Interior, with the event attended by the Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, and the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, Hon. George Opare-Addo Also present were the Chief Executive Officer of the YEA, Malik Basintale, and senior officials from the Ghana Police Service.
This initiative is part of a broader national agenda to provide meaningful employment opportunities for the youth while promoting community-centered policing strategies.
According to Malik Basintale, CEO of the YEA, the Community Police Assistants program is a testament to the agency’s commitment to youth empowerment and national development. “This MoU is more than just a document; it’s a symbol of our firm commitment to empower young people, reduce crime through community collaboration, and promote national development,” he said.
The program will see thousands of qualified youth deployed to various police districts to assist in maintaining law and order, gathering intelligence at the grassroots level, and bridging the gap between the police and the communities they serve. Recruits will undergo comprehensive training provided by the Ghana Police Service to ensure they are equipped with the skills and discipline required for the role.
The new Inspector-General of Police, COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, emphasized the importance of community policing in effective law enforcement. “This collaboration allows us to strengthen our presence in communities while giving our young people the opportunity to serve the nation with dignity and purpose,” he said.
The Ministers in attendance commended the initiative and called on the private sector and other stakeholders to support similar programs aimed at creating sustainable livelihoods for the youth.
The Community Police Assistants initiative is expected to roll out in phases, with recruitment and training set to begin in the coming months. Interested applicants are advised to stay informed through official YEA and Ghana Police Service communication channels.
This development marks another bold step by the YEA in fulfilling its mandate to promote youth empowerment and national cohesion through targeted employment interventions.
