YEA Allowance GH₵800: Intakes & How to Register

Quick answer: The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has raised the monthly allowance paid to its beneficiaries from GH₵500 to GH₵800, a 60% increase. CEO Malik Basintale announced it at the Government Accountability Series at Jubilee House, Accra, on 21 October 2026. He also said the YEA had placed 100,628 young people in its programmes by 30 September 2026, and that new intakes are planned for November 2026 and 2027.

Below we explain what changed, which YEA modules took on young people this year, what is coming next, and how to register safely through the official portal.

YEA allowance increase at a glance

New monthly allowance: GH₵800 (previously GH₵500)
Increase: 60%
Announced: 21 October 2026, by YEA CEO Malik Basintale
Beneficiaries recorded: 100,628 as of 30 September 2026
2026 recruitment target: 133,000, so about 75.7% has been reached
Start month for the new rate: not stated in the reports we reviewed. Confirm with your YEA district office or module supervisor.

Mr Basintale also said the agency wants allowances to be paid on time and regularly. He admitted that payment problems have not been fully fixed.

How GH₵800 compares with the minimum wage

A YEA allowance is not a salary. The YEA describes itself as a stop-gap agency that partners with other institutions to give young people training, work placements and skills. It does not hire them into permanent public or private sector jobs. Still, comparing the allowance with the national minimum wage helps.

Ghana's 2026 national daily minimum wage is GH₵21.77.
Over 28 paid days that comes to about GH₵610 a month. This is our own estimate. See our guide to the minimum wage in Ghana for 2026 for how it is worked out.
That puts GH₵800 a month above the minimum-wage equivalent. It is still a modest income, so plan your budget and transport costs before you accept a posting far from home.

Which YEA modules recruited in 2026

These are the module figures the YEA gave for the period to September 2026, as reported by Graphic Online and GBC:

Community Police Assistants: 11,788 engaged against a target of 12,000
Fire Service Assistants: 4,888 against 5,000
Prisons assistants module: 5,207 against 5,000
Community Medical First Responders (trained with the National Ambulance Service): 5,585 against 6,000
Youth in Garment and Apparel: 9,373 against 10,000
Northshore Garment Project: 1,000 trained, and all were later employed
Trades and Vocation: 51,900 enrolled across 18 skill areas
Arabic instructors module: more than 6,000 beneficiaries in Zongo communities
Labour Exchange Programme: more than 1,000 beneficiaries placed in jobs abroad

Will security modules lead to permanent jobs?

The YEA says it has signed agreements with security agencies under which at least 60% of beneficiaries in its security modules should be absorbed into those agencies after their two-year engagement. That is a target, not a guarantee for each person. Keep a good attendance and conduct record, because that is what you control.

New YEA intakes for November 2026 and 2027

The YEA set out these upcoming intakes and programmes:

Community Teaching Assistants: 6,000 to be onboarded with the Ghana Education Service by the end of November 2026
Safe and Fast Community Transport: 2,000 beneficiaries expected to be onboarded in November 2026
Ghana Women and Youth Employment and Social Cohesion Programme: about US$3.6 million (around GH₵44 million) from the African Development Bank to engage 11,200 beneficiaries. Recruitment is due to begin in the first week of November 2026.
ICT training: 2,000 young people to be enrolled in IT programmes with the Ghana Digital Centre

Four new programmes are planned for 2027:

Domestic Services Employment Programme: training in housekeeping, home management and caregiving, under arrangements that follow labour rules
Youth in Delivery Services Programme: logistics and delivery jobs, especially in regions without organised delivery services
Youth in Corporate Services Programme: workplace experience in professional and support roles, for graduates and non-graduates
Youth in Agriculture and Farming Support Services: crop production, farm operations, mechanisation, irrigation and post-harvest work

The YEA has not yet published application dates, eligibility rules or allowance levels for the 2027 programmes. Treat any "portal open" message for them as unconfirmed until it appears on official YEA channels.

How to register for YEA programmes

Registration is done online through the official YEA portal at apply.yea.gov.gh. It has separate entry points for general modules, skills training and the garment module. It also links to a private jobs board, the YEA Job Centre and a Work Abroad page.

Get your details ready. Have your ID details, an active phone number and any certificates the module asks for. The portal form shows exactly what is required.
Open the official portal. Type apply.yea.gov.gh into your browser yourself rather than clicking links forwarded on WhatsApp.
Pick the right section. Use "General Modules" for YEA modules, "Skills Training" for trades and vocational options, or the module-specific link if one is listed.
Check each module's status. Some entries on the portal are marked "Closed". Only apply where a module is open.
Complete the form carefully. Make sure your name and ID details match your identity document exactly, because mismatches can cause problems at validation.
Keep a record. Screenshot or note your confirmation details, then watch for messages from the YEA and your district office.

If you are a graduate, YEA modules can run alongside other routes into work. See our guide to NSS postings for 2026/2027 and our update on GES teacher recruitment for November 2026.

Avoid YEA recruitment scams

Big intakes attract fraudsters. Protect yourself:

Never pay "protocol" fees. Nobody can sell you a guaranteed YEA slot. Anyone asking for money to "fast-track" your placement is a red flag.
Use only official channels. That means apply.yea.gov.gh, yea.gov.gh and the YEA's verified social media pages.
Do not share your MoMo PIN or one-time codes with anyone who claims to be processing your application.
Be wary of "work abroad" offers on WhatsApp. Check them against the YEA's own Work Abroad page before you hand over passports or money.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the YEA allowance now?

GH₵800 a month, up from GH₵500. YEA CEO Malik Basintale announced the 60% increase on 21 October 2026.

When does the GH₵800 YEA allowance start?

The reports we reviewed do not give a start month. Ask your district YEA office or module supervisor, and check your payment notices.

Is the YEA recruiting now?

Intakes are planned for November 2026, including 6,000 Community Teaching Assistants, 2,000 places under Safe and Fast Community Transport, and 11,200 beneficiaries under an AfDB-backed programme. Check apply.yea.gov.gh to see which modules are open.

Does the YEA give permanent jobs?

Not directly. The YEA offers training and placements of limited length. For its security modules, it says agreements are in place for at least 60% of beneficiaries to be absorbed by security agencies after two years.

Do I pay to join a YEA module?

You should not pay anyone for a placement. Register yourself on the official portal and report anyone who demands a fee.

Find more jobs in Ghana

A YEA module can be a useful first step, but keep applying for longer-term roles too. Browse the latest jobs on Jobsiz, build a clean CV with our free resume builder, and follow more updates in our Job Market section.

Sources

By Jobsiz Editorial Team. Facts checked against the sources above on 23 October 2026. We will update this page when the YEA publishes dates for its November 2026 and 2027 intakes.

YEA Allowance Rises to GH₵800: New Intakes and How to Register