- The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) is preparing to triple allowances for sanitation module workers under a new waste management contract.
- This follows the suspension of its deal with Zoomlion Ghana Limited, which paid workers GH¢258 monthly.
- YEA CEO Malik Basintale also announced that around 5,000 beneficiaries who failed to report to duty will forfeit two months of unpaid salaries.
- A committee has been formed to select a new service provider, with a promise that future contracts will meet or exceed the national minimum wage.
The Youth Employment Agency is making major moves to overhaul its sanitation module — and for thousands of young workers, change is finally on the horizon.
At the center of the shake-up is a plan to increase monthly allowances by more than 300%, a dramatic shift from the GH¢258 previously paid under the agency’s suspended contract with Zoomlion Ghana Limited. That figure had long been criticized as inadequate, especially given the rising cost of living and the physical demands of sanitation work.
YEA CEO Malik Basintale, speaking after a session with Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, made it clear that low wages would no longer be tolerated. A new committee has already been formed to review tenders and select a fresh waste management partner — one that aligns with the agency’s renewed commitment to fair compensation.
But the reforms aren’t just financial. Basintale also revealed that roughly 5,000 beneficiaries who failed to report to their assigned posts will lose two months of unpaid salaries. These weren’t ghost names, he clarified — they were real individuals who simply didn’t show up. Meanwhile, those who were present and validated have already received their payments.
The sanitation module has long been a lifeline for young Ghanaians seeking employment, but critics say poor oversight and low pay have undermined its impact. With this new direction, YEA is signaling a shift toward accountability, dignity, and better working conditions.
As the agency prepares to onboard a new waste management provider, many are watching closely to see whether these promises will translate into lasting change — and whether Ghana’s youth will finally get the support they deserve.
