In a bold move to tackle youth unemployment in Ghana, the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has partnered with the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to recruit 5,000 young Ghanaians as Fire Assistants across the country.
The initiative, sealed with a one-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), was led by YEA CEO Malik Basintale. It is a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment.
Under this agreement, the recruits will provide essential support services to the Fire Service for a period of one year. They will assist in various operational and administrative duties to help enhance the Service’s efficiency and reach.
Importantly, the MoU also opens the door for some of these recruits to be permanently absorbed into the Ghana National Fire Service after their contracts end. This offers a significant pathway for long-term career development for the youth involved.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, which was witnessed by the Minister for the Interior and the Minister for Youth and Sports Development, officials highlighted the government’s strong commitment to empowering the youth and advancing national development.
Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed–Mubarak expressed optimism about the partnership, highlighting its potential to promote youth employment and national development.
According to him, this is in line with the Government’s 24-hour economy initiative aims to expand economic activity beyond traditional business hours, aiming to enhance productivity, boost competitiveness, and create more job opportunities.
“This is more than just employment,” said Mr. Basintale. “It’s a game-changing partnership that strengthens Ghana’s emergency response system while creating meaningful jobs for our young people.”
The move is expected to improve the operational capacity of the Fire Service while providing thousands of youth with valuable work experience, discipline, and a chance to serve their nation.
