The Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, through the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to train 5,000 young people in basic firefighting to help safeguard marketplaces across the country.
The initiative, championed by the Minister for the Interior, Hon. Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, is in response to the frequent and devastating fire outbreaks in markets and urban centers. Speaking at the official signing ceremony, Hon. Muntaka described the collaboration as a timely intervention to support the overwhelmed Ghana National Fire Service.
“You may recall the several market fires that have ravaged our communities. The Ghana National Fire Service is mandated to respond, but it is clearly overstretched,” he said. “This partnership offers a stopgap by empowering youth through training and deployment.”
Hon. Muntaka lauded his colleague, the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, Hon. George Opare Addo, and the Youth Employment Agency for the collaboration. He expressed hope that similar models would be extended to other security agencies like the Ghana Police Service through community policing.
The Minister also assured that trained youth will be prioritized for recruitment into the Fire Service after the two-year program, describing this as an incentive and a path to sustainable employment.
Hon. George Opare Addo echoed similar sentiments, urging the Interior Ministry and GNFS to consider permanently employing beneficiaries after the program. “This is not just about skills acquisition but also sustainable employment,” he noted. “When youth are trained and let go without transition, they could pose a security risk, especially if they understand internal systems.”
CEO of the Youth Employment Agency, Mr. Malik Basintale, reaffirmed the agency’s readiness to roll out the initiative. He emphasized that the program aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s vision of transforming Ghana into a skilled and productive economy.
“This collaboration reflects our commitment to putting young people to work,” Mr. Basintale said. “We are deploying 5,000 youth, and the Ghana National Fire Service will ensure they receive the necessary training and discipline to serve.”
Acting Chief Fire Officer, Ms. Daniela Mawusi Ntow Sarpong, welcomed the partnership and expressed confidence that the recruits would live up to expectations. “It is our prayer that the young people sent to us will be hardworking and disciplined,” she said.
The event marks a major step in promoting youth employment while simultaneously strengthening public safety in critical areas such as marketplaces.
