The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has held a strategic meeting with the Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon. Kofi Iddie Adams, to explore job creation avenues and advance the YEA Play Abroad initiative—an effort aimed at promoting sports development and employment opportunities for Ghanaian youth.
Central to the discussions was the implementation of YEA’s mandate under Act 887 (2015), with an emphasis on establishing a structured framework that supports both local and international sports-based employment.
Hon. Adams commended the Play Abroad initiative, describing it as a promising step toward harnessing sports for national development.
He proposed the formation of a joint technical team to refine program documentation and ensure a smooth and effective rollout.
The Minister underscored the need for a holistic and functional model to address challenges such as the growing issue of unregulated sports job offers abroad.
He further called for enhanced grassroots and school-level sports systems, backed by a clear legal framework to guide talent development and protect the interests of all stakeholders.
“This is a significant step toward ensuring fair recruitment, safe migration, and the protection of our youth engaging in sports opportunities overseas,” Hon. Adams noted.
A proposal to establish a “sports free zone” to support talent development is also under review, signaling a bold move to encourage investment in youth sports.
In addition, the government is working to support local athletes through structured incentives and enumeration programs aimed at retaining talent and strengthening the domestic league.
To advance the initiative, Hon. Adams urged YEA to set up a Technical Committee made up of key industry stakeholders to oversee the successful execution of the government’s Work Abroad Program in sports.
Ultimately, the partnership seeks to empower young Ghanaian athletes, create sustainable jobs, and position Ghana as a competitive force on the global sports stage.