The Youth Employment Agency (YEA), in collaboration with Ghana’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, has unveiled a bold initiative designed to create structured job pathways for aspiring footballers across the country.
In October 2017, YEA first signed an MoU with the Ministry to train 5,000 young people in various sports related fields including sports coaching, pitch management, fitness instruction, and sports journalism with a special focus on football and boxing.
Building on that foundation, July 2020 saw YEA create dedicated stipends of GHS 500 per month for six months to support 500 elite women footballers in the Ghana Women’s Premier League. This was part of the broader “Youth in Elite Sports for Ghana” program executed in partnership with the National Sports Authority.
The momentum continued in April 2021 when a MoU with the National Sports Authority ensured that 1,000 elite athletes including footballers received similar support of GHS 500 monthly, which shall reinforce Ghana’s commitment to nurturing sporting talent.
Recently, YEA has intensified its efforts under the leadership of CEO Malik Basintale. Now in line with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the agency is expanding job creation for footballers beyond stipends by preparing them to take roles in coaching, sports management, facility maintenance, sports media, and elite team support infrastructure.
This collaboration envisions a multi-tiered development pathway from vocational training in local stadiums to opportunities in sports journalism, athletic coaching, and administrative roles within clubs and national associations. Additionally, discussions are underway to integrate these offerings into elite academies and regional football hubs.
By positioning football not just as sport but as a viable employment sector, Ghana is paving the way for young talents to build enduring careers. With structured training, mentorship, and well-defined job tracks, these initiatives aim to professionalize football and equip players with skills transferable across the sports industry.
Ghana’s rising football stars now have clear, tangible opportunities not just play, but prosper.
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