In Ghana, the Youth Employment Department within Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) operates primarily through the decentralized structures of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and the National Youth Authority (NYA). Its core function is to develop, coordinate, supervise, and facilitate sustainable job creation and skills training for young people at the local governance level.
The primary functions of this department within local assemblies include:
1. Implementation of National Employment Modules
The department rolls out national youth employment initiatives designed by the Youth Employment Agency tailored to the local economy’s needs, including:
- Community Service & Security: Recruiting youth to support local community policing and traffic management.
- Community Teaching & Health Assistants: Deploying local youth to support understaffed basic schools and rural healthcare facilities.
- Agriculture & Afforestation: Engaging youth in local farming, nursery management, and environmental greening initiatives.
- Sanitation Management: Managing youth groups involved in keeping the district clean and clearing waste.
2. Vocational, Technical, and Digital Skills Training
The department coordinates skills development programs to bridge the gap between local labor demand and supply.
- Organizing Rapid Skill Training programs in trades like plumbing, soap making, beauty care, and tailoring.
- Facilitating Digital Skills Training in ICT, phone repairs, and social media marketing to encourage tech-driven self-employment.
3. Job Matching and Local Job Center Operations
Serving as a one-stop shop for local employment, the department operates local job hubs.
- Registering and maintaining a comprehensive database of unemployed youth within the district.
- Connecting local job seekers with private businesses and artisans operating within the assembly’s jurisdiction.
4. Promotion of Youth Entrepreneurship
To shift the youth focus from searching for corporate jobs to creating businesses, the department:
- Partners with the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) and NEIP to provide entrepreneurship mentoring.
- Helps young startup owners within the MMDA access business toolkits, start-up capital, or microloans.
5. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting
The department ensures transparency and tracks program efficiency by:
- Monitoring the field performance of youth deployed under various government sub-contracts or internships.
- Submitting routine reports and data to the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment regarding the progress of youth programs in the district.