Accra: The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CAMFED Ghana to empower and create decent job opportunities for marginalized girls and persons with disabilities (PWDs) across the country. At the signing ceremony, YEA CEO Mr. Malik Basintale noted that more females than males took part in the recent BECE-an encouraging shift from past trends.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Basintale emphasized that the YEA prioritizes job opportunities for women and has tailored initiatives for PWDs, making the partnership a natural fit. He announced the upcoming launch of the ‘Agriculture for Disability’ programme, which will train PWDs in catfish farming to promote self-sufficiency and reduce street begging. Mr. Basintale expressed gratitude for the partnership, saying it would help young women and PWDs gain access to employment opportunities.
‘Together I believe in the words of the President John Dramani Mahama, that we shall build the Ghana we want. Let’s take this up to ensure that girls and PWDs are highly engaged under the YEA with decent jobs,’ he said.
Ms. Fairuza Abdul-Rashid Safian, Executive Director of CAMFED Ghana, said the partnership would promote skills training for women to boost employment and sustainable livelihoods. It also aims to increase female participation in male-dominated fields, share best practices, and ensure child protection and safeguarding in youth training programs.
Ms. Safian expressed her hope and firm belief that CAMFED’s working partnership with YEA will contribute to addressing emerging employment and sustainable livelihoods challenges of Ghanaian youth. She stated that the partnership aims to empower beneficiaries economically and enable them to support themselves, their families, and communities.
‘What we are trying to do is to build in them the spirit of giving back. And so, when they become economically empowered, they are able to give back to their societies, so that we would have a better future for the children of Ghana,’ she said.
Ms. Safian highlighted that CAMFED values government partnerships, believing that supporting girls benefit families and society. She explained that CAMFED provides educational scholarships and helps beneficiaries transition into employment or further education. ‘And so, for those that would want to go into direct employment after secondary school, YEA is there to support us, to do that. And even those that go into further education, when they come up, YEA is there to support us,’ she added.
Ms. Safian mentioned that CAMFED prioritizes supporting the needy, the voiceless, and the overlooked in rural areas.