The Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Malik Basintale, has called for a review of the current funding formula for youth-focused institutions, citing persistent financial constraints that are hampering effective operations.

Speaking to the media after an appearance before Parliament’s Government Assurances Committee, Basintale emphasised that while the government has consistently demonstrated commitment to youth development, the existing allocation model remains inadequate for agencies tasked with delivering critical youth programmes.

He appeared before the committee alongside the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, to respond to concerns regarding funding gaps affecting key institutions such as the Youth Employment Agency and the National Youth Authority (NYA).

According to Basintale, the minister reiterated the government’s strong policy stance on prioritising youth empowerment, highlighting ongoing efforts and presidential backing for initiatives aimed at improving employment opportunities for young people. However, he stressed that these commitments must be matched with a more responsive and sustainable funding structure.

“The support is clear, but the formula we are working with does not reflect the scale of the responsibility placed on these agencies,” Basintale noted, expressing optimism that the committee would take decisive steps to address the issue.

He further underscored that revising the funding framework would significantly enhance the capacity of the agencies to expand programmes, improve service delivery, and ultimately reduce youth unemployment.

Basintale also addressed ongoing public discourse surrounding the sanitation module, clarifying that it is no longer under the mandate of the YEA.

He explained that responsibility for sanitation has been transferred to the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, and, therefore, falls outside his current jurisdiction.

He urged members of the public, particularly those engaging on social media, to take note of the change, stressing that questions regarding sanitation contracts, including those linked to Zoomlion Ghana Limited, should no longer be directed at the agency.