Youth Employment Agency Trains Persons with Disabilities in Fashion and Creative Skills – CEO Malik Basintale
The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has begun an ambitious and inclusive skills training programme aimed at equipping persons with disabilities (PWDs) across Ghana with employable skills in fashion design, embroidery, beadwork, and millinery. The Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Malik Basintale, announced this during a media engagement in Accra, stressing that the initiative is part of YEA’s ongoing commitment to job creation and social inclusion.
Mr. Basintale explained that the training programme is designed not just to teach a trade, but to empower individuals to become self-reliant entrepreneurs. According to him, more than 500 participants from all 16 regions have already been enrolled in the first phase of the training, which is being carried out in collaboration with accredited vocational training institutions and disability-focused organisations.
He emphasized that the programme reflects the agency’s vision of building a more inclusive society, where persons with disabilities are given equal opportunities to contribute to national development. The CEO noted that beyond the core technical training, participants will also be taken through entrepreneurship development, basic financial literacy, and marketing skills to ensure they are well-positioned to either start their own businesses or find meaningful employment within the fashion and creative industries.
Malik Basintale assured that participants will be supported with monthly stipends during their training and provided with starter packs upon completion to help them begin work immediately. He said the agency will also facilitate opportunities for participants to showcase their creations at exhibitions and trade shows, providing them exposure to potential customers and business partnerships.
The initiative has received widespread commendation from stakeholders, including the Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations. Speaking at the event, the federation’s president, Yaw Ofori Debrah, described the programme as a “game changer” in the effort to break the cycle of poverty and marginalization among persons with disabilities. He lauded the YEA for its proactive approach and called for more institutional partnerships to sustain the programme in the long term.
Mr. Basintale reaffirmed that this is only the beginning of a series of inclusive training and employment initiatives the agency intends to roll out. He mentioned that upcoming programmes will include skills training in ICT, agro-processing, and green energy, with similar provisions to ensure that persons with disabilities are fully integrated.
As the first batch of trainees begin their journey, the Youth Employment Agency is not just offering skills but a renewed sense of hope, dignity, and economic independence for some of Ghana’s most marginalized citizens. This initiative marks a major milestone in Ghana’s efforts to build an inclusive and resilient economy where everyone, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to thrive.
