ECG cuts power to YEA office in Abuakwa North over GHC 5,500 debt

Operations at the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) office in Abuakwa North have stopped. This is due to a power cut by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). The cut is over an unpaid debt of GHC 5,500 that dates back seven years.

The lack of electricity has left the office without power for several days. This situation hampers service delivery and raises concerns about addressing youth unemployment in the area.

Mr. Edmond Kwaku Dua is the newly appointed YEA Director for Abuakwa North. He expressed frustration during an interview after starting his duties on Monday. “As I resume office today, there is no electricity,” he said. “Everything is 'basa' in the office. Not a single computer is working.”

The power outage has made all electronic equipment unusable. Staff cannot perform basic administrative tasks because of this issue. Mr. Dua has made an urgent appeal to authorities to help settle the electricity debt and restore power.

He also pointed out that the office infrastructure needs immediate renovation. He urged individuals, organizations, and government agencies to support efforts to revive the office.

Despite these challenges, Mr. Dua remains hopeful about tackling unemployment nationally. He spoke with Accra FM/CTV News reporter Apelete Kofi-Michel about a proposed 24-hour economy policy. He believes it could create many job opportunities for young people.

“Once we implement it, imagine how many jobs we can create,” he said, noting that around 140,000 young people enter Ghana's labor market each year.

Mr. Dua emphasized the private sector's role in achieving President John Mahama’s One Million Jobs Agenda. This aligns with YEA’s efforts to reduce unemployment across Ghana.

In a statement, YEA announced its upcoming Job Fair 2025 as part of its strategy to connect job seekers with employers and provide skills development opportunities.