A new Youth Internship Scheme has been launched by the government, following an agreement between the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Youth Development.

In the coming days, interns will be deployed across key institutions, including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prisons Service, and Ghana National Fire Service.

These agencies are expected to receive the first batch of the selected interns on Wednesday, July 16.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Interior, Mr. Mohammed-Mubarak, at the maiden edition of the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, July 14.

“We have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Youth Development for security agencies internship, enhancing youth employability.

“The first batch of these interns will commence on the 16th of this month,” he added.

The initiative, aside from decreasing the unemployment rate, is expected to provide selected Ghanaian youth with the opportunity to acquire hands-on experience.

In April, the government through the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) entered a one-year agreement with SoccaBet Ghana to create 500 job placements. Also, the Agency, in partnership with the Ghana Fire Service, will recruit 5,000 young Ghanaians as Fire Assistants across the country.

Speaking at the signing ceremony on Monday, May 19, at the Ministry of Interior, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of YEA, Malik Basintale, noted that the government's priority is not solely about creating job opportunities but "involving our youth in building safer communities."

"We are here today because we have found some 12,000 jobs within the Ghana Police Service. Every day and anytime I wake up, the first thing that comes to mind is where I can find jobs for young people out there," he added.In May, the Agency and the Police Service signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to recruit 12,000 young individuals across the country to serve as Community Police Assistants (CPAs).

Unemployment in Ghana has been on the rise despite numerous government interventions.A report from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) reports that youth unemployment rose to 14.7 percent in the first three quarters of 2023.

But according to a UK-based firm, Fitch Solutions, “Over 2024, we forecast unemployment to hold at 4.0%, and if accompanied by easing inflation, will see a rise in real wages for many households”.