The Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment (MLJE), in partnership with the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), has officially inaugurated the Inter-Ministerial Steering and Technical Committees to oversee the implementation of the government’s new Work Abroad Programme.
The inauguration, held at the MLJE conference room, brought together representatives from key state institutions and international organizations who will serve on the committees. The initiative is aimed at creating employment opportunities for skilled Ghanaian youth in international job markets.
Welcoming participants, the Acting Chief Director of the Ministry, Madam Gloria Bortele Noi, expressed appreciation for their commitment to supporting the programme. The Chief Executive Officer of YEA, Mr. Malik Basintale, provided an overview of the initiative, emphasizing that it is designed to facilitate international employment for skilled workers, countering public misconceptions about its scope. He stressed the importance of preparing a well-trained workforce to meet global labour market demands.
Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing youth unemployment through strategic international partnerships. He noted that the Work Abroad Programme, jointly spearheaded by MLJE and YEA, would provide temporary, seasonal, contract, and permanent job opportunities for Ghanaian youth in partner countries.
Dr. Pelpuo outlined the key objectives of the programme, which include promoting safe and orderly migration, enhancing youth employability, reducing unemployment, contributing to national economic growth, and ensuring the sustainable reintegration of returnees. He emphasized that the initiative is designed to benefit not only the youth but also the national economy and international labour markets.
As part of a significant policy shift, the Minister announced the cancellation of the migration of domestic workers, citing the need to protect vulnerable groups from exploitation and align Ghana’s labour migration strategy with international standards. This decision underscores the government’s focus on prioritizing skilled and semi-skilled employment opportunities abroad.
Dr. Pelpuo also introduced the newly formed committees and elaborated on their roles in ensuring the successful implementation of the programme. The YEA will serve as the programme’s secretariat and play a key operational role.
In inaugurating the committees, the Minister thanked members for their dedication and wished them success in their mandate.
The Work Abroad Programme stands as one of the government’s flagship initiatives aimed at tackling youth unemployment through global partnerships and structured job creation.
