The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has recruited a total of 6,501 youths into the various modules across the region as part of measures by the government to reduce the high rate of unemployment in the country.

The recruitment comprises 3,072 males, and 3, 429 females including 22 Persons Living With Disability were engaged in modules such as agriculture, teaching and the security services among others.

Mr Mohammed Pelpuo, the Eastern Regional Director of the Youth Employment Agency, said the recruitment forms part of the 100,000 youth-targeted to be employed by the agency by the end of the year.

He stated that the government was providing jobs for the youth between the ages of 15 to 35 years and reducing the high unemployment rate in the country adding that the region will be engaging more youth by the end of December.

Mr Pelpuo said YEA, which was formerly known as the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA), was mandated by law to facilitate youth employment in the country.

The YEA established under the Youth Employment Agency in 2015 under Act 887 was to oversee the coordination, supervision and facilitation of employment for the youth and related matters in the country.

Mr Pelpuo said it is also a one-stop-shop for employment of the youth and entrepreneurial development of the youth taking into consideration gender and Persons Living With Disability.

He said in order to improve teaching and learning as well as improve access to quality health delivery, especially in deprived communities, more youths have been employed in the education and health sectors.

Mr Pelpuo said the youth in Community and Service and Security is to augment the human resource capacity of the police, prison and fire services while providing employment opportunities for the youth.

He said the YEA has adopted the International Labour Organization (ILO) working standards such as creating equal opportunities and treatment for all youth in terms of access to jobs as well as ensuring safe and decent working environment for all.