By: Kwame Bediako
The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) led by its CEO, Malik Basintale recently held a high-level meeting with the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, to discuss strategies aimed at boosting employment opportunities for Ghanaian youth through sports.
Central to the discussions was the YEA ‘Play Abroad’ initiative, a programme designed to create jobs and foster sports development both locally and internationally.
During the meeting, the implementation of Act 887 (2015) was a key point of focus.
The legislation provides the legal framework for sports-based employment programmes, and the officials emphasized the need for a well-structured approach to ensure successful execution.
The Minister praised the ‘Play Abroad’ initiative as promising and called for the formation of a joint technical team to refine the program’s documentation, aiming for effective and transparent implementation across all levels.
Kofi Adams highlighted the importance of addressing current challenges, especially concerning unlanded football jobs abroad.
He stressed the need for a comprehensive approach that includes strengthening Ghana’s school and grassroots sports systems. Such efforts are intended to develop homegrown talents, promote fair recruitment practices and ensure the safe migration of youth involved in sports, with a focus on legal protection and stakeholder benefits.
Proposals for a free zone concept to support sports talent development are also under consideration. This move aims to create a dedicated environment for nurturing athletes, while government measures are being put in place to retain talented local players.
Initiatives such as enumeration are expected to help keep Ghanaian athletes within the country, thereby enriching the local sports leagues and fostering national pride.
