The Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Malik Basintale, together with the Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Operations, Abubakari Saana Abdul-Kudus, spent the weekend in Goaso in the Ahafo Region engaging with startup entrepreneurs as part of efforts to strengthen partnerships that support youth employment, entrepreneurship, and skills development across Ghana.
The engagement formed part of the Agency’s broader commitment to identifying and supporting innovative youth-led businesses with the potential to create sustainable livelihoods and contribute significantly to local economic growth.
Through direct interactions with entrepreneurs, the YEA leadership sought to gain first-hand insight into the operations, opportunities, and challenges facing emerging businesses within the region, while exploring possible collaborations that could help expand employment opportunities for young people.
As part of the visit, the delegation toured the poultry farm of a young entrepreneur, Abdul Razak, who currently operates a farm with over 5,000 birds. The visit provided Management with the opportunity to observe the scale of operations and discuss the business’s growth journey, production processes, and future expansion plans.
The CEO commended Abdul Razak for his innovation, resilience, and commitment to building a successful agribusiness enterprise that contributes to employment creation within the community.
Mr. Basintale noted that agribusiness continues to present enormous opportunities for youth employment and economic transformation, adding that young entrepreneurs venturing into agriculture deserve the necessary support and encouragement to scale their businesses.
According to the CEO, enterprises such as Abdul Razak’s poultry farm serve as practical examples of how entrepreneurship can create sustainable jobs and empower young people economically.
The delegation also visited Tmana Company, a fast-growing enterprise engaged in multiple business operations, including furniture production and supply. The company has steadily expanded its operations and currently supplies furniture products to major outlets in Accra and other parts of the country.
During discussions with management of Tmana Company, attention was given to the company’s operational model, workforce development, and opportunities for collaboration with the Youth Employment Agency to support skills training and employment initiatives.
The YEA leadership praised the company’s entrepreneurial vision and commitment to local production, describing the business as an example of the potential of Ghanaian enterprises to grow into sustainable industries capable of employing and training large numbers of young people.
Speaking during the engagements, Mr. Basintale reiterated the Agency’s commitment to supporting youth-led businesses and startups that demonstrate the capacity to create jobs and provide practical skills for young people.
He emphasized that YEA’s vision extends beyond direct employment modules, focusing also on building strategic partnerships with private sector players and entrepreneurs to expand opportunities for the youth.
“Our goal is not only to create jobs directly through Agency programmes, but also to support and collaborate with businesses that can absorb more young people, equip them with skills, and contribute meaningfully to economic growth,” he stated.
The Deputy CEO (Operations), Mr. Abdul-Kudus, also reaffirmed the Agency’s readiness to engage businesses and entrepreneurs across the country to identify practical solutions for youth unemployment and sustainable economic empowerment.
The engagements in Goaso underscore YEA’s growing focus on entrepreneurship and private sector collaboration as essential drivers of job creation and national development.
The visit further reflects the Agency’s dedication to empowering young entrepreneurs, promoting innovation, and creating sustainable employment opportunities that positively impact communities across Ghana.
