CEO of YEA: Ghost Names To Be Removed From Payroll

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The Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Malik Basintale has defended the agency’s payroll validation measures, declaring that beneficiaries who no longer qualify will be removed from its records.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series, Mr Basintale explained that the agency combines electronic verification with physical checks and quarterly reports from partner security institutions to identify discrepancies and prevent payments to ineligible beneficiaries.

The YEA chief executive emphasised that the system goes beyond digital verification, allowing officials to confirm beneficiaries’ presence at their assigned workplaces. He explained that individuals who abandon their posts or remain absent from work for more than a month risk removal from the payroll.

“If you’re a ghost and we find you, we’ll take you back to the cemetery where you belong, and you can ultimately trust us to always do that.”

Mr Basintale explained that the agency conducts electronic validation over a period of approximately four months before undertaking manual verification exercises. During these physical checks, officials visit districts and compare the number of beneficiaries registered on the system with those actually present at their assigned locations.

He stressed that face-to-face verification remains important despite the introduction of digital systems, arguing that physical checks help expose discrepancies that electronic records alone may not adequately address. The agency also receives quarterly reports from partner institutions, including the Police Service, Fire Service and Prisons Service, to establish whether beneficiaries continue reporting for duty.

Clarifying why reported recruitment figures may differ from the number of active beneficiaries, the CEO of YEA cited Community Police Assistants as an example. He explained that although the agency recruited approximately 12,000 people, the number had fallen to about 11,800 by December because some beneficiaries had vacated their posts.

According to Mr Basintale, the difference reflects changes in active employment records rather than an initial failure to recruit the targeted number. He stressed that beneficiaries who leave their positions must be removed from the payroll to ensure that reported figures accurately represent those still working.

In addition to physical inspections, the agency relies on payment arrangements involving government institutions, including the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department. Mr Basintale believes the combination of verification procedures, partner reports and payroll controls makes it difficult for ineligible individuals to remain undetected.

Plans to expand overseas employment opportunities and improve access to skilled workers featured prominently during the address of the Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Malik Basintale at the Government Accountability Series.

He outlined the agency’s labour exchange programme, efforts to secure employment pathways for security recruits who cannot be absorbed into public institutions and plans for a digital platform connecting households with accredited artisans.

Mr Basintale explained that the YEA obtains overseas job opportunities through memoranda of understanding with the Labour Department and other recognised institutions, rather than searching online for vacancies. He also highlighted ongoing discussions with the Interior Ministry on improving conditions in the private security sector and described plans to establish a dedicated employment programme for persons with disabilities.

“We have very good people in this country who can work better than people from all these countries, but sometimes difficult to locate them.”

The YEA chief executive characterised the labour exchange programme as “a promising initiative” that could encounter challenges as implementation progresses. He explained that the agency monitors beneficiaries abroad through periodic visits, including a recent monitoring exercise led by his deputy responsible for finance and administration.

According to Mr Basintale, difficulties experienced by some participants can arise from recruiters’ conduct or beneficiaries’ own actions. He cited traffic violations as an example of situations in which Ghanaian workers must adjust to the laws and expectations of their host countries.

He acknowledged that not every beneficiary would be satisfied with the experience, but affirmed that the agency would continue addressing reported difficulties. The programme would require ongoing supervision as international labour mobility expands.

On security recruitment, Mr Basintale explained that the Police Service and other security agencies had agreed to absorb at least 60 percent of the relevant recruits. The YEA is developing plans for the remaining 40 percent, including discussions with the Interior Ministry to position the agency as “a central employment channel” for private security recruitment.

He identified remuneration, conditions of service and job security as major reasons some applicants hesitate to enter private security. Formalising an employment framework could improve confidence in the sector and make it a more attractive career option.

Turning to skilled employment, the CEO outlined plans for an application that would connect customers with plumbers, carpenters and other artisans within their localities. The platform is intended to make qualified workers easier to identify, particularly when customers struggle to locate reliable service providers in their communities.

Mr Basintale explained that users would be able to select a trade and view available workers in their area, with service fees displayed on the platform. He also indicated that the artisans would undergo certification and accreditation checks, including verification of relevant credentials.

In addition, Mr Basintale disclosed that the agency intends, subject to board approval, to establish a programme specifically for persons with disabilities in the following year. The initiative would allocate a proportion of opportunities towards empowering them to participate more fully in the labour market.

He also identified a 566 percent increase in beneficiary recruitment, timely payments and the introduction of programmes such as Community Medical First Responders as key achievements. The agency has also expanded training to more than 50,000 people across 18 skill areas, according to the CEO.

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